The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 116 I Trust Him
Li Xiaoren sought out Wang Zhen alone, clearly intending to discuss something important.
Wang Zhen grasped his intent and said, “It’s still early. On the way to Dingguo Temple, I noticed a teahouse at the foot of the mountain.”
Li Xiaoren immediately understood. “If Wang daren wishes, shall we rest there together?”
Wang Zhen smiled. “Very well.”
The two headed to the teahouse.
Nestled beneath Dingguo Temple, the teahouse thrived, benefiting from the temple’s bustling incense offerings. Though situated in a mountain hollow, it attracted many patrons who stopped by on their way to offer incense and prayers. Once inside, they deliberately chose a private room.
As soon as they entered, Li Xiaoren sighed gloomily. “Did Wang daren meet that Master Shanting today?”
Wang Zhen replied, “I’ve seen Master Shanting before at the Immortal Ascension Platform. Does Li daren have something to say?”
Li Xiaoren hesitated, uncertain about Wang Zhen’s attitude toward Shanting. He felt conflicted but knew he had no other options. After a brief hesitation, he began, “To be honest, Wang daren, ever since Shanting entered the palace, he has gained His Majesty’s favor. Every day, he prepares elixirs and recites scriptures for His Majesty. I won’t speak of trivial matters, lest you misunderstand me—I am not one of those scheming ministers bent on eliminating rivals.”
Even as he said this, Li Xiaoren paused, feeling somewhat guilty. Clearing his throat, he continued, “It’s just that something feels off.”
Wang Zhen replied calmly, “Li daren has served His Majesty faithfully for over two decades; your loyalty is well-known in court.”
Though aware that Wang Zhen was being diplomatic, Li Xiaoren still found his words reassuring. He relaxed, confident that Wang Zhen remained an ally. After all, they had known each other for years, while Shanting had only arrived in the capital this year. Even if Wang Zhen intended to side with Shanting, it would take effort and yield little benefit.
Li Xiaoren explained, “Since His Majesty fell gravely ill over a decade ago, he has been pursuing immortality. In the past, he would go to the Immortal Ascension Platform daily to cultivate and absorb spiritual energy, but it never lasted more than two hours. Despite his cultivation, he remained diligent in governance. However, since Shanting’s arrival, His Majesty has been spending six hours a day at the Immortal Ascension Platform!”
Wang Zhen showed a look of surprise.
Seeing his reaction, Li Xiaoren felt satisfied and pressed on, “I’ve tried advising His Majesty not to endanger his health by overindulging in cultivation. The spiritual energy enters through Baihui, passes through Shenting, and exits at Yongquan, forming a cycle. Excessive pursuit can backfire; His Majesty should be cautious. But instead of heeding my advice, he summoned Shanting immediately to recite scriptures.”
“You mean to say…”
Li Xiaoren looked troubled. “I fear that if His Majesty continues pouring so much effort into elixir-making and cultivation, it could harm his health.”
The two parted ways after leaving the teahouse.
Once alone, Li Xiaoren’s expression darkened, revealing his true nature.
“Who knows if Wang Zifeng can come up with a plan to get rid of that wretched monk!”
Li Xiaoren’s disciple had been waiting outside the teahouse for a long time. Seeing his master emerge, the young disciple quickly ran up to hold an umbrella and fan him. Overhearing Li Xiaoren’s complaint, the disciple’s eyes flickered and he asked, “Master, do you think that Wang Zifeng can really help us deal with that baldy?”
“How would I know!”
The young disciple was dumbfounded. “Ah?”
“Ai, I’m merely grasping at straws. These days, I can’t even see His Majesty once in three days, while Shanting remains by his side daily, reciting scriptures at Immortal Ascension Platform. What I told Wang Zifeng earlier came from the heart. If things continue this way, His Majesty’s health will surely suffer. Ai, as for Wang Zifeng… I still can’t fully understand him, but I can only hope he will lend us a hand this time. If he does, I will remember his kindness and repay him in the future.”
Zhao Fu had pursued immortality for over twenty years. Now, he had suddenly turned to a life of vegetarianism and Buddhist devotion. Although the court ministers found it absurd, none dared to question the emperor’s actions. The Censorate seemed oblivious to Shanting’s presence, with not a single censor filing an accusation against him.
In the 31st year of Kaiping, a great upheaval struck the court. The commotion wasn’t due to Zhao Fu’s shift from Taoism to Buddhism but because three princes had entered the court and begun taking on official duties.
Zhao Fu was sixty-seven years old, while his sons were relatively young—the eldest, Prince Zhao Shang, was only thirty-two. No longer children, the three princes had grown into adults. Though Zhao Fu had neglected them for years, his sudden decision to have them participate in court affairs seemed like a significant signal.
Shengjing, at the Right Prime Minister’s residence.
In Shengjing, there was a popular rhyme often recited by children, comparing the two prime ministers of the Song Dynasty: “Rice, oil, and salt fill the Left Prime Minister’s residence, while the Right Prime Minister’s home is a paradise amidst the mortal world.” It referred to Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji’s frugal and upright nature, with his household possessing barely any valuables. In contrast, Right Prime Minister Wang Quan came from a noble lineage and lived in wealth. Though Wang was by no means corrupt, his grand manor, styled after Jiangnan gardens, stood in stark contrast to the Left Prime Minister’s humble abode.
At this moment, Right Prime Minister Wang Quan stood before his study window, gazing at the lotus-filled pond.
The study, named Baqiu Study, bore a plaque inscribed with the Emperor Zhao Fu’s calligraphy. The name came from the “Eight Ways of Seeking Books” by a bibliophile of the previous dynasty, reflecting a scholarly and refined pursuit of knowledge.
Inside the study, six rows of bookshelves lined the room, and the faint scent of ink filled the air.
Staring at the lotus pond in thought, Wang Quan furrowed his brow and sighed. “If a storm is approaching, how can these lotuses protect themselves from being battered and broken?”
“Why the sudden sigh, uncle?”
Turning around, Wang Quan replied, “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed the brewing storm on the court’s horizon!”
Standing between the bookshelves, Wang Zhen smiled and said, “All I see is calm. Why prepare for a storm prematurely?”
Wang Quan asked seriously, “Did you hear any news, Zi Feng?”
“None.”
“Then how can you be so composed?”
Wang Quan had held sway over the court for many years, and he had also contended with Ji Wengji for just as long. Yet now, facing Ji Wengji, he could confidently say he understood his opponent well. However, when it came to his nephew, Wang Zhen, there were moments of incomprehension. Somehow, Wang Zhen had grown closer to the emperor than he had. As the saying goes, the inscrutability of the emperor’s heart is difficult to discern! Compared to him and Ji Wengji, Zhao Fu placed greater trust in young officials like Wang Zhen and Su Wenyun.
Wang Zhen said, “That’s because Zi Feng has always trusted in only one thing.”
Wang Quan, intrigued, asked, “Oh? And what is that?”
Wang Zhen raised a hand, pointing skyward, and smiled. “I trust him.”
Wang Quan’s eyes dilated. After a long silence, he said, “There was once Li Xiaoren, and now there’s Shanting. After the Empress Dowager’s passing, you’ve witnessed His Majesty’s transformation.” His voice suddenly trailed off, and an expression of astonishment crossed his face. Then, abruptly, he smiled wryly and shook his head. “You truly are His Majesty's close confidant. When it comes to deciphering imperial intent, I can no longer match you.”
Wang Zhen responded calmly, “I’m merely guessing.”
Wang Quan waved dismissively and laughed heartily. “Enough of such matters. A meal has already been prepared for us, full of the Gusu cuisine you love. By the way, when will you bring Tang Jingze to visit us?”
Wang Zhen smiled helplessly. “It’s still too early for that!”
Wang Quan teased, “The longer you wait, the more things might change!”
While Wang Zhen dined on delicacies at the Right Prime Minister’s residence, Tang Shen was home alone, having just taken a bite of his meal when Yao San suddenly returned. Tang Shen immediately put down his chopsticks and went to the study with Yao San, ignoring his hunger to hear the report.
“Little boss, I’ve looked into it. That Cui Xiao is indeed a Jinling Prefecture cavalry officer.”
Tang Shen asked, “Are you certain it’s him?”
Yao San nodded emphatically. “Absolutely certain. I even spent some silver to treat a clerk from the Jinling Prefecture office to drinks at a restaurant. I claimed to have a distant relative serving as a cavalry officer there. When I described Cui Xiao’s appearance, the clerk immediately recognized him and said, ‘Isn’t that Cui daren?’”
Over the years, Yao San had traveled far and wide with Tang Shen, handling matters more reliably each time, and Tang Shen trusted him greatly.
Tang Shen nodded. “Did you find out what crime he committed?”
Yao San smiled wryly. “Given that Cui Xiao has traveled all the way to Shengjing to seek you out, it’s clear the matter hasn’t caused a huge stir yet, so I couldn’t find any solid information. However, I did learn that Cui Xiao is notoriously corrupt, a first-class swindler. As long as you give him money, he’ll do anything without hesitation. So if he’s in trouble, it’s probably related to money.”
Tang Shen suddenly understood. He had a hunch about Cui Xiao’s purpose in seeking him out and how Cui Xiao had initially crossed paths with Liang Song five years ago.
Five years ago, Liang Song had suddenly received word that Zhong Taisheng, who had been imprisoned in the imperial dungeons for over twenty years, had fallen gravely ill and was unlikely to survive without immediate treatment. Far away in Gusu, Liang Song had no way of knowing what was happening in Shengjing. All he could do was make repeated trips to Jinling to gather information and seek ways to save Zhong Taisheng’s life.
Liang Song, one of the four great scholars of the realm, couldn’t act openly in this matter. He had to proceed discreetly. Thus, instead of approaching high-ranking officials and powerful figures he knew, he privately sought out information, eventually bribing Cui Xiao for insider news—something entirely plausible.
Tang Shen had not been involved in the matter back then. His only involvement came when Liang Song’s nephew, Xu Hui, sought his help in investigating a Taoist priest who had returned to Gusu for a family visit. Only Xu Hui knew about this, and Tang Shen had long since sent the Tang's Logistics staff who had gathered the information out of Gusu. Their current whereabouts were unknown.
It was unclear how Cui Xiao had learned of Tang Shen’s connection to Liang Song, but without solid evidence, mere words wouldn’t be enough to shake Tang Shen’s current position.
Feeling reassured, Tang Shen smiled. “If it’s about corruption, then it’s nothing serious—he was probably reported for a bribe he couldn’t cover up, and now it’s reached Shengjing, where he can’t suppress it.”
After a moment of thought, he added, “This is an easy matter, but why should I help Cui Xiao?”
Tang Shen said indifferently, “Let him stay in the Court of Judicial Review for a while longer!”