The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 120 Gifting Each Other Peonies
After a long silence, Tang Shen, his body stiff, spoke, "It’s really nothing major. Last month, the cavalry officer of Jinling Prefecture, Cui Xiao, came to Shengjing looking for me, asking for a small favor. I didn’t know exactly what happened, so I sent someone to Jinling to investigate."
Wang Zhen paused for a moment and asked, "Why did he seek you out?"
Tang Shen answered, "I have some past connections with Cui Xiao."
"What kind of connections?"
Tang Shen opened his mouth, trying hard to defend himself, but every explanation seemed feeble.
After a while, Tang Shen suddenly asked, "Then how did Senior Brother know that I sent someone to Jinling?" He changed the subject, turning the focus toward Wang Zhen.
Hearing this, Wang Zhen gave Tang Shen a peculiar look. Perhaps even Tang Shen himself didn’t realize that three years ago, he would never have spoken to Wang Zifeng in such a tone. But now, he did—calmly and righteously, without feeling any guilt.
Wang Zhen explained, "Because my servant happened to return to Jinling for some errands and ran into Yao San on the street."
Tang Shen hadn’t expected such a coincidence; he had assumed...
"You thought I was deliberately monitoring you?"
Tang Shen abruptly looked up, his face filled with surprise.
Wang Zhen, surprisingly, didn’t get angry. It seemed he had long passed the point of being upset—he simply let out a quiet laugh.
Tang Shen’s doubt and distrust had long been clear to Wang Zhen. Yet now, even though he had voiced those thoughts openly, Tang Shen still actually assumed Wang Zhen had someone watch him.
"You think I’m keeping an eye on you?"
Wang Zhen smiled faintly, letting out a soft "Oh" before delivering a series of piercing questions, "Cavalry officer Cui Xiao of Jinling Prefecture? How did you two meet? When and where, and under what circumstances? He’s an officer in Jinling, and you grew up in Gusu, having visited Jinling only a handful of times. Even if he knew me, he shouldn’t have known you, Tang Shen—Tang Jingze. Yet, he came all the way to Shengjing to ask for your help. What gives him the confidence that you would assist him…"
"Senior Brother!"
Tang Shen’s eyes trembled as he clenched his teeth, staring wide-eyed at Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen fell silent.
Tang Shen’s trembling pupils reflected a desperate plea. He was silently saying, Senior Brother, please don’t push me anymore…
Wang Zifeng, please stop pressing me!
All the pressing and questioning dissipated in that single glance.
Wang Zhen quietly gazed at the young man before him. After a long while, he gently asked, "Why won’t you tell me?"
Hearing these words, Tang Shen suddenly exhaled in relief.
Knowing Wang Zifeng as well as he did, Tang Shen realized that Wang Zifeng must have given up and wouldn’t force him to tell the truth anymore.
Wang Zhen was a man like the bright moon in the sky or the gentle breeze through the woods—the only true gentleman Tang Shen had ever met. Tang Shen had always known that his senior brother would never have a falling out with others or reveal his emotions to others. Tonight’s Wang Zifeng was already different from usual; he had shown too much. The intense emotions, like raging flames, were suppressed beneath his calm exterior, and Tang Shen was terrified. He feared that Wang Zifeng might actually corner him into a dead end.
But Wang Zhen wouldn’t.
Perhaps it was arrogance borne of being cherished, or perhaps it was a sense of reliance. Regardless, Tang Shen was confident Wang Zifeng wouldn’t.
Yet in the next moment, Wang Zhen tightened his grip on Tang Shen’s hand. His slender fingers pressed so tightly on Tang Shen’s wrist that it hurt. Startled, Tang Shen instinctively looked up, only to see Wang Zhen’s refined and elegant face adorned with a gentle smile. In a soft, soothing tone, Wang Zhen said, "No matter how well one hides it, nothing in Jinling Prefecture escapes the Wang Clan of Langya."
Tang Shen’s eyes widened in shock.
Wang Zhen continued, "If it were anywhere else, perhaps it wouldn’t matter, but in Jinling Prefecture, every matter—great or small—can be known by the Wang Clan of Langya with just a little effort. Have you ever wondered why five years ago, Liang Bowen went to Jinling time and again? Who was he seeking assistance from? Why would a mere sixth-rank cavalry officer dare to come to you for help?"
"I didn’t…"
Wang Zhen cut him off, "If Liang Bowen truly needed help, he had countless people to turn to! Leaving aside distant possibilities, the then Governor of Jinling was a close friend of his. Moreover, if he wanted to understand His Majesty’s intentions, why ask local officials? He should have asked high-ranking officials in the capital! Fu Wei, Fu Xiru was one of the four great scholars of the realm and had long been a close acquaintance of Liang Bowen. If Liang Bowen needed help, why didn’t he approach Fu Xiru? Even if Fu Xiru didn’t know, Fu Xiru’s student, Wang Zhen, Wang Zifeng was from the prestigious Wang Clan of Langya, serving as Minister of Revenue and highly trusted by the emperor. If anyone could uncover the truth, Wang Zifeng was certainly among them. If Liang Bowen had truly sought out our teacher, how could I refuse to assist him? But he didn’t."
After a pause, Wang Zhen let out a long, drawn-out sigh—a sigh filled with endless melancholy. "Because he didn’t want to implicate anyone who might be involved."
"You want to know why Zhong Taisheng, who had lived so long in prison, suddenly had to die?"
Tang Shen’s heart skipped a beat. That had been a question plaguing him for years!
Wang Zhen saw through his thoughts instantly and chuckled softly. "Because of a meteor star."
Tang Shen asked in astonishment, "A meteor star?"
"In the 24th year of Kaiping, on the fourth day of the eighth month, a star as large as a peach fell from Zigong, passing through Taiwei, above the Emperor’s Star, and over the southeast, crossing the Twenty-Two Stars of the Heavenly Market Enclosure." Wang Zhen recounted, "At that time, His Majesty was at the Immortal Ascension Platform practicing Taoist breathing exercises. Several of the ever-burning lamps extinguished, prompting him to summon the head of the Astronomical Bureau for an audience."
Tang Shen held his breath as memories of an entry he once saw in the emperor’s Daily Records four years ago flashed through his mind.
"In the 24th year of Kaiping, on the fourth day of the eighth month, a star as large as a peach fell in the southeast. That night, Li Xiaoren, Chief Astronomer, entered the palace to meet the emperor."
What followed after that was...
Wang Zhen continued, "Three days later, Su Wenyun, the Junior Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, entered the palace for an audience. His Majesty issued a general amnesty, proclaiming benevolence to all."
Tang Shen asked in astonishment, "This has something to do with Su Wenyun?"
Wang Zhen gave him a deep look. "I’ve told you before, the things His Majesty desires but cannot openly do must still be done by someone. A golden dragon wields a blade by night, casting it down, and where the blade lands, blood flows freely. The golden dragon merely casts the blade—its sharp edge cleaves gold and jade. But what does that have to do with the dragon itself?"
Tang Shen was shaken to his core. With just a few words, Wang Zhen had solved the mystery that had puzzled him for years.
A fire seemed to ignite within Tang Shen, burning so fiercely it threatened to consume him. His throat was dry, and every breath he exhaled was fraught with unrest.
Tang Shen exclaimed, "It’s that simple?!"
Wang Zhen replied calmly, "Yes, it’s that simple."
Once enlightened, Tang Shen quickly grasped the key. He understood. "Simply because of a meteor star, the emperor deemed it an ominous sign and decided to end Zhong Taisheng’s life?!" He couldn’t comprehend it—how could someone’s life hinge on something as trivial as a meteor?
But Wang Zhen posed a counter-question, "You should be asking why it took 24 years for the emperor to finally take Zhong Taisheng’s life."
Tang Shen was rendered speechless.
Wang Zhen said no more.
After a long silence, Tang Shen murmured, "Because he is a wise ruler."
Zhong Taisheng, the foremost of the four great scholars, was highly revered. The emperor, merciful in sparing his life, thus won the loyalty of scholars throughout the land.
"Now you know the truth of what happened back then and the matter Liang Bowen painstakingly investigated for half a year," Wang Zhen paused before asking, "Little Junior Brother, what more do you wish to learn?"
Tang Shen stared at Wang Zhen, torn by inner conflict. He opened his mouth several times to speak but closed it just as quickly. His hesitation and struggle didn’t escape Wang Zhen’s notice. Though Wang Zhen maintained a calm expression, his grip on the fan handle tightened.
In his moment of utter turmoil, Tang Shen suddenly recalled Wang Zhen’s earlier remark.
Why didn’t Liang Bowen seek help from old friends?
Because he didn’t want to implicate anyone he cared about.
What do I truly wish to know? What do I still hope to accomplish?
I have questions I want answered. I have actions I want to take!
Tang Shen, "Senior Brother, please don’t press me anymore."
Wang Zhen was momentarily stunned.
Tang Shen gazed intently into his eyes, repeating with resolve, "Senior Brother, please don’t press me anymore." Though his voice was firm, his eyes brimmed with pleading and hope, as if he were tearfully entreating in a coquettish manner. He looked so fragile, like a dream that could shatter with the slightest touch.
Wang Zhen felt his heart melt.
The Records of the Grand Historian says: "Greed can cloud one's judgment."
Wang Zifeng suddenly realized that what he was feeling now could only be described as desire clouding reason!
His gaze unconsciously drifted downward, landing on Tang Shen’s lips. Tang Shen, unaware of the intensity of Wang Zhen’s stare, was about to speak again when Wang Zhen suddenly raised a hand, covering Tang Shen’s eyes.
Plunged into darkness, Tang Shen’s senses sharpened. He could hear nothing but the sound of their mingled breaths.
"Senior Brother?" Tang Shen called nervously, unsure of Wang Zhen’s intent but he could feel the burning gaze. He did not dare pull at Wang Zhen's hand.
Wang Zhen's gaze remained locked on those soft lips. He leaned closer, almost pressing his own against them—then stopped. Instead, he kissed the back of his own hand, which was still covering Tang Shen’s eyes.
In that instant, Tang Shen froze, his body tense. Warm breaths filtered through Wang Zhen’s fingers, brushing lightly against his eyelids. Then he heard Wang Zhen’s soft voice, laced with gentle amusement.
"Alright, I won’t press you."
Tang Shen forgot how to breathe.
Wang Zhen’s voice turned melodic as he began reciting from Zhen Wei, his tone clear and soothing like water over stones.
"Zhen and Wei, flowing wide and clear; men and women, holding orchids fair…"
"Gifting each other peonies…"
As Tang Shen left the Minister Residence, he didn’t dare look back. He knew Wang Zhen must be standing there, holding a lantern, silently watching him depart.
When he returned to Tanhua Residence, Tang Shen wiped his face. The teary-eyed, pleading and coquettish expression he had worn moments ago vanished instantly. He knew how to deal with Wang Zifeng. Even if he couldn’t outwit the man, he could at least ensure his safe retreat.
Tang Shen swiftly gathered ink and paper, intending to record everything he had learned tonight. But as he picked up the brush, his fingers trembled, and he couldn’t bring himself to write the first word.
He gripped his right wrist tightly, steadying his hand.
After a long pause, he raised his hand to cover his eyes.
In the darkness, he could still feel Wang Zhen’s intense gaze, though he couldn’t see it. That kiss, though it had landed on Wang Zhen’s own hand, seemed to have burned itself into Tang Shen’s heart.
“Wang Zifeng…" he whispered the name aloud, startling himself.
When he looked down, he saw that the sheet of paper before him was covered in countless repetitions of the same three characters:
‘Wang Zifeng.’
Tang Shen slumped back into his chair, speechless.
AN: Neighbor Wang: So adorable. I won’t press you anymore—after all, there’s nothing I want to know that I can’t find out.
Little Tang Lang: I won't be able to sleep tonight… QAQ