The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 112 White Hair Overnight
Yu Chaosheng came to Youzhou to take over Tang Shen’s duties, while Wang Zhen came to oversee the handover between them. Now that the transition was complete, Wang Zhen and Tang Shen set off for Shengjing together. Since Tang Shen had been injured, they stayed a few extra days in Youzhou to allow him to recover. Once he felt better, they began their journey.
Due to Tang Shen’s recent injury, they traveled slowly to ensure his comfort. Taking their time, they paused along the way to enjoy the scenery, turning what would have been a five- or six-day trip into a ten-day journey. Upon arriving in Shengjing, Wang Zhen first escorted Tang Shen back to Tanhua Residence. After stepping off the carriage, Tang Shen looked at Wang Zhen helplessly and said, “Senior Brother, isn’t this considered using public resources for personal purposes?”
Wang Zhen raised an eyebrow in surprise. “What is little Junior Brother talking about?”
Tang Shen explained, “A journey that should have taken five or six days ended up taking twice as long. This must be what they call a government-funded trip.”
Wang Zhen paused, clearly amused. “Government-funded trip? That’s a new term.” With a slight smile, he continued, “In the northwest, it’s nothing but endless yellow sands without a glimpse of the clear sky. As we neared Shengjing, we traveled mostly on rural paths, rarely passing through towns. I didn’t realize little Junior Brother enjoys such desolate travel. Quite a peculiar taste.”
“Ah?”
“Next time, I’ll be sure to indulge you.”
Tang Shen: “…?”
What did you just say?!
With that, the two parted ways.
Back in Shengjing, Tang Shen didn’t immediately return to Qinzheng Hall to resume his duties. His assignment in Youzhou to oversee the Silver Pull Division had taken him away for four months. Now it was June, and Shengjing was unbearably hot. He needed to report to the Ministry of Personnel first, after which he would have to go through several layers of approval before he could return to his original post.
While in Youzhou, Wang Zhen had once told him that Shengjing had changed and that Tang Shen should "change his attire" and not behave as he did in the past. However, after spending a few days in the city, Tang Shen noticed no significant difference. Shengjing was still as bustling and prosperous as ever. The Qianmen Street starting from the Grand Canal was crowded with people. Tang Shen even took some time to secretly visit the Baibao Pavilion, treating it as an incognito inspection. The shop’s business had stabilized, attracting thousands of Shengjing residents daily. Tang Huang had also launched a new custom-order service.
Since last year, Baibao Pavilion had begun selling glass mirrors. These mirrors provided a clear reflection and were more affordable than silver mirrors, quickly becoming a favorite among the aristocracy in Shengjing. However, the glass mirrors were not Baibao Pavilion’s most prestigious product. When Tang Shen first established Baibao Pavilion, he had received an imperial decree from Zhao Fu to replace all the palace windows with glass ones.
Naturally, the emperor did not take advantage of Tang Shen—every copper coin for the project was paid in full. Yet the task had been grueling, taking Baibao Pavilion half a year to complete. Since then, the sparkling glass windows of the imperial palace had become a living advertisement.
Which noble and official could step into the palace and not notice the pristine glass windows?
The windows were so exquisitely crafted that high-ranking officials immediately inquired about them. Before long, officials of the second rank and above, with the exception of the frugal Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji, rushed to Baibao Pavilion to place custom orders. This massive influx of orders kept Tang Huang and Yao San busy for an entire year.
Two days after Tang Shen reported to the Ministry of Personnel, before he could receive a summons to enter the palace, a significant event occurred.
The Censorate’s Supervising Censor, Gao Ming, submitted a memorial listing seventeen accusations against the Chief Astronomer Li Xiaoren, implicating several of Li Xiaoren’s disciples in serious crimes committed in their hometown. During the morning court session, Gao Ming vehemently criticized the misconduct of the accused disciples and called upon the emperor to intervene and bring justice by removing these corrupt individuals.
Li Xiaoren, a fourth-rank official, was present in Zichen Hall at the time. Terrified, his legs nearly gave out. However, as officials in the Song Dynasty were not required to kneel before the emperor, he stood trembling and loudly protested his innocence, claiming he was unaware of his disciples' actions and would never condone such behavior.
This was not considered a major issue, as Gao Ming’s primary target was Li Xiaoren’s disciples rather than Li Xiaoren himself. Although Gao Ming wished to bring down the sycophantic fake Taoist priest, he had no direct evidence against Li Xiaoren and could only accuse him of failing to discipline his subordinates properly.
Zhao Fu listened quietly as the argument dragged on. Eventually, he coughed lightly, drawing the attention of all present.
“Chief Astronomer, are these allegations true?” asked the emperor calmly on his throne.
Li Xiaoren’s face twitched as he stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I was unaware, but if these allegations are proven true, I will not tolerate such behavior.”
Turning to Gao Ming, Zhao Fu asked, “Minister Gao, you seem confident in your evidence. What do you suggest we do?”
Gao Ming, who had initially hoped Zhao Fu would dismiss Li Xiaoren, noted the emperor’s indifferent tone and realized he was unlikely to act harshly. Reluctantly, he replied, “I defer to Your Majesty’s judgment.”
Zhao Fu waved a hand dismissively. “Let the Court of Judicial Review investigate the matter. Handle it according to the law.”
In the end, Li Xiaoren was merely fined three months’ salary and ordered to reflect on his actions at home. What no one expected was that, the following day, Zhao Fu summoned a monk from Dingguo Temple. This monk, named Shanting, though only in his forties, was reputed to be a highly respected figure and a likely candidate for the next abbot.
Zhao Fu had never believed in Buddhism, only in Taoism. Li Xiaoren had once lit an eternal lamp for him and refined elixirs in his honor. Yet, without warning, Zhao Fu began to embrace Buddhism as well.
Most people devoted themselves to either Buddhism or Taoism, rarely both. But Zhao Fu was different—he believed in both with equal fervor.
Shanting, a renowned monk, was summoned to the imperial palace to offer spiritual guidance to the emperor. Surprisingly, he also assisted in refining elixirs. Normally, monks of the Buddhist order would never engage in Taoist alchemy, but this was the emperor’s will. And when the emperor commanded, even a monk had to comply.
Thus, Shanting and Li Xiaoren worked together, concocting elixirs and teaching Zhao Fu the secrets of immortality.
Though Zhao Fu continued to attend court regularly, his personality became increasingly unpredictable.
One day, Wang Zhen was summoned to Immortal Ascension Platform, where he found Zhao Fu seated amidst three large bronze furnaces, clad not in his imperial robes but in a simple Taoist gown. Flames roared beneath the furnaces, while a gentle breeze stirred the room through the glass windows, casting flickering light on the emperor and making him appear like an ascetic Taoist.
Wang Zhen waited silently until Zhao Fu finished his meditation. However, this time, instead of returning to the inner palace, Zhao Fu personally took a fan and approached one of the furnaces to check on the concoction. He beckoned Wang Zhen over and pointed to a furnace. “Zi Feng, do you know what’s being refined here?”
Wang Zhen's voice was clear and gentle, “Your Majesty, I do not. I await your enlightenment.”
Zhao Fu smiled faintly. “This is a Nine-Turn Elixir prepared by Shanting. Every day I take one, I feel reinvigorated, as if I’ve grown ten years younger. Would you like to try one?”
Wang Zhen raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Your Majesty, I would be honored.”
Zhao Fu gave him a meaningful look before shaking his head. “Alas, there’s only one pill per day. I cannot spare one for you.” After a pause, he added, “I recall the first time I met you—it was twelve years ago. You stood in Zichen Hall with Yu Chaosheng. I named him bangyan (2nd) and you as the zhuangyuan (1st). It’s hard to believe so much time has passed. In my thirty-one years on the throne, I’ve seen ten top scholars, but you are the only one to whom I granted the title ‘Peerless Zhuangyuan.’ Do you know why?”
Wang Zhen’s fingers twitched slightly, but he maintained his composure. “I do not, Your Majesty.”
“Because,” Zhao Fu said with a faint smile, “seeing talented young people like you makes me feel young again.”
The next day, Zhao Fu summoned Tang Shen. Instead of meeting him at Immortal Ascension Platform, he called him to Chuigong Hall.
Tang Shen, dressed in a new official robe, followed the eunuch into the hall, his head bowed as he pondered Wang Zhen’s cryptic words from the previous night. Just then, a benevolent voice sounded. “Jing Ze, you’ve returned from Youzhou, but you seem much more reserved. Raise your head and greet me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Tang Shen raised his head, only to freeze in shock for a brief moment. However, he quickly composed himself, and no one noticed his lapse.
The brightly lit Chuigong Hall revealed Zhao Fu seated on the throne, still wearing his enigmatic smile, but he had aged considerably. His hair now contained numerous strands of gray, and what struck Tang Shen most was the sudden absence of vitality in the emperor’s eyes.
In the past, Zhao Fu had always been full of vitality. He seemed to believe he was still young and never felt the weight of age. That’s why he built three official roads and established the Silver Pull Division. He thought he could still accomplish many things. But all of a sudden, it was as if he had truly aged to match his years.
Tang Shen recalled how Wang Zhen had visited him late at night the previous day, specifically to tell him that Zhao Fu had become both easier and harder to deal with. At the time, Tang Shen didn’t quite understand what Wang Zhen meant. Faced with such life-or-death matters of serving the emperor, Wang Zhen wouldn’t normally speak in riddles. Yet when Tang Shen pressed for clarity, Wang Zhen paused before simply saying, “You’ll understand once you see him.”
It was only after meeting Zhao Fu in person that Tang Shen realized what Wang Zhen meant. The feeling was indescribable.
What had changed Zhao Fu?
Tang Shen pondered deeply and could only surmise that it was the Empress Dowager’s death. Her passing had dealt a heavy blow to the emperor, causing him to become somewhat withdrawn.
Seeing Zhao Fu like this filled Tang Shen with mixed emotions, a feeling difficult to put into words.
Zhao Fu asked, “Jing Ze, you went to Youzhou. Did you come across anything interesting?”
Tang Shen thought for a moment before replying, “I am from Jiangnan and visited the northwest for the first time. I witnessed the grandeur of the desert landscape. Youzhou is unlike the regions of our Great Song; its scenery is vast, magnificent, and open. Such a wonderful place captivated me, and I was reluctant to leave. But since the task was completed, I had no choice but to return.”
AN: Zhao Fu: Do you know why all the F4 (flower 4) officials I favor are particularly good-looking? Because when I look at them, it feels like seeing my younger self! I was good-looking too!
Zhao Xuan & Zhao Qiong: …
The late emperor & empress dowager: …
Everyone: Shameless!