The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 127 Come Here, Jing Ze
The next day, Tang Shen saw Li Jingde among the officials receiving the Liao envoys.
General Li had once again shaved off his thick beard and was now dressed in the attire of a civil official, hiding behind Meng Lang. When he saw Tang Shen, he gave him a meaningful look but did not deliberately engage him in conversation.
Tang Shen sighed inwardly—look at Li Jingde, now he, too, had his own schemes! Whether it was being used by Tang Shen or being used by Meng Lang, in the end, he was still being used. The difference was that he could always find an excuse to pull a sack over Minister Lang's head and give him a good beating, but he couldn't do the same to Tang Shen. So this time, he went straight to Meng Lang instead of trying to get through Tang Shen.
That day, negotiations between the envoys once again ended in discord.
After court, Tang Shen visited Su Wenyun again. This time, he recalled the distinctive features of the young Liao official, "His earlobes are thin, his left eye is slightly larger than his right, and he has a small black mole on his right cheek."
Su Wenyun gave him a sidelong glance. "Tang daren may have an eidetic memory, but I do not."
In other words, he had only seen Yelü Shege once in Xijin Prefecture—how could he remember so clearly?
Tang Shen realized his approach was lacking in consideration. He was just pondering how to confirm the man's identity—should he take the risk of bringing Su Wenyun to see him in person? But before he could decide, Su Wenyun sneered and said, "Of course, Yelü Shege does have a small black mole on his right cheek."
Tang Shen was startled. "But, Su daren, you just said you didn't have an eidetic memory?"
Su Wenyun replied matter-of-factly, "So what? I may not have an eidetic memory, but I can certainly remember if Yelü Shege has a mole on his face."
Tang Shen: "…"
This man was truly insufferable!
Now that he had confirmed the man was indeed Yelü Shege, Tang Shen quietly devised a plan.
He sought out Li Jingde privately and said bluntly, "Among the Liao envoys, one is actually the Second Prince of Liao, Yelü Shege."
Li Jingde was shocked, rubbing his freshly shaved chin. "Really?"
Tang Shen nodded. "Yes. But before we continue, may I ask, General, why have you returned to the capital this time?"
Li Jingde hesitated for a moment before replying, "My return to Shengjing is actually unrelated to the arrival of the Liao envoys. It's a personal matter, and it doesn't concern you, Tang daren. There's no need for you to ask. However, since I happened to encounter these shameless Liao officials, I decided to stay a few more days. Once they leave, I'll return to Youzhou."
So Li Jingde had other business in the capital?
Tang Shen was momentarily suspicious but then saluted and said, "From what you’re saying, General, it seems you've already accomplished what you came to do. Now you're staying only for these envoys. In that case, I have a plan..."
That night, Tang Shen quietly entered the palace and met with the emperor in Funing Palace.
Zhao Fu looked much better. He sat on a soft couch, sipping bird’s nest porridge as he listened to Tang Shen’s report. When Tang Shen finished speaking, Zhao Fu took another sip of porridge, then gently placed his jade bowl on the yellow pearwood table. The delicate white jade bowl made a crisp sound as it touched the surface.
Zhao Fu sighed. "It seems the Liao people always like to send envoys during the coldest months of winter."
Tang Shen lowered his head and replied calmly, "Liao is in the north. Once winter sets in, the land freezes three feet deep, making travel difficult. Our Great Song controls the Central Plains, vast and rich, with varied winter landscapes. It’s understandable that the Liao people would admire it."
Hearing this, Zhao Fu burst into laughter.
As Tang Shen was leaving the palace, he was stopped at the palace gates.
He halted and saluted respectfully. "Greetings, Li daren."
The man before him was none other than Li Xiaoren, the Chief Astronomer of the Astronomical Bureau.
As a third-rank official, Li Xiaoren outranked Tang Shen, who held a nominal fourth-rank title with actual third-rank authority. Li Xiaoren returned the greeting and then scrutinized Tang Shen with his beady eyes, smiling. "Tang daren, did you just come from His Majesty’s chambers?"
"Indeed."
Li Xiaoren put on a concerned expression. "His Majesty’s recent cold has had me deeply worried. Fortunately, as the Son of Heaven, he is blessed by divine protection and has recovered swiftly." Then, after a brief pause, he asked, "It has been a long time since I've seen Wang daren. Has he not returned from Jinling yet?"
For a moment, Tang Shen's body tensed. He answered, "Not yet."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Li Xiaoren’s face, but he quickly resumed his conversation with Tang Shen. Originally just a Taoist priest from Qingyun Temple in Huaizhi Mountain, Li Xiaoren had risen to power through the emperor’s favor. Though he was barely literate, he was a master of flattery.
Since he seemed eager to establish rapport, Tang Shen saw an opportunity as well.
The two chatted for some time, and then a round-faced monk in a simple robe approached, led by a eunuch. Li Xiaoren immediately fell silent. When the monk reached them, he saluted calmly to both Li Xiaoren and Tang Shen. "Taoist Li." He then turned to Tang Shen.
Tang Shen nodded slightly. "I am Tang Shen, Court Gentleman Consultant of the Imperial Censorate."
The monk had a kind face and a serene voice. "Tang daren."
Tang Shen returned the greeting. "Master Shanting."
Shanting’s gaze lingered briefly on Tang Shen’s eyes. Tang Shen thought he was about to say something but, instead, the monk turned to Li Xiaoren and asked, "Taoist Li, are you also heading to Funing Palace to pray for His Majesty’s health?"
Li Xiaoren replied with a forced smile, "Indeed."
"Then let us go together."
Li Xiaoren pretended to be pleased. "That would be wonderful."
With that, the two bid farewell to Tang Shen and proceeded to Funing Palace.
The next day, when Tang Shen visited the diplomatic residence again, Li Jingde was absent. Without his support, Meng Lang immediately became hesitant and found an excuse to postpone the discussions until the next day.
Meanwhile, Li Jingde was already on horseback, riding swiftly back to Youzhou.
Upon arriving in Youzhou, he did not go to the northwest military camp but headed straight to the Silver Pull Division, summoning Wang Xiao.
Wang Xiao felt a sudden chill—he hadn’t offended this fearsome general, had he?
Li Jingde casually scratched his ear and asked, "I heard from Tang daren that the affairs of the Silver Pull Division are all under your management?"
Wang Xiao was instantly alarmed. He didn’t know how to respond.
Li Jingde wasn’t a Silver Pull Division official—he was the Marshal of the Western Expedition. Could Wang Xiao even discuss the empire’s secret agents in Liao? And just how much did Li Jingde already know?
Seeing Wang Xiao’s hesitation, Li Jingde slammed the table, feigning anger. "Do you think I would lie to you? Of course, Tang daren personally told me!"
Wang Xiao, "…Yes, this lower official is in charge."
Li Jingde cut straight to the point. "Where is the Second Prince of Liao now?"
Wang Xiao thought to himself, General Li actually knows about their biggest spy planted in the Liao State—Xiao Zhen, the Left Minister under the command of the Liao Second Prince, Yelü Shege. It seems Li Jingde truly knows the inside story.
So he said, "Yelü Shege should be in Nanjing's Xijin Prefecture."
"He's gone to Shengjing!"
"What?!"
Li Jingde's eyes narrowed, and he beckoned Wang Xiao closer, whispering, "Even Xiao Zhen doesn't know about this. It seems this is a secret operation, unknown to others. Yelü Shege sneaking into Shengjing must have some ulterior motive. Those Liao princes are fiercely competing, even using our Princess Anding as a pawn and getting her killed. Why not play along with their schemes? In that case, why not leak Yelü Shege's whereabouts? Who in the Liao State hates Yelü Shege the most? It's Yelü Yin, the former Grand Protector who was dismissed from office, and behind him, the third prince Yelü Han and Grand Preceptor Yelü Ding. Wang daren, do you know what to do now?"
Wang Xiao looked at Li Jingde in surprise. He hadn't expected General Li to be both brave and resourceful, capable of turning the situation to their advantage with such a plan.
Wang Xiao immediately replied, "This lower official understands!"
Li Jingde nodded in satisfaction.
In Shengjing, Yelü Shege was in the guesthouse, secretly plotting with the Liao envoy Xiao Zhang. Unbeknownst to him, a secret letter had already been sent to Xijin Prefecture in the Liao State, hidden in a shipment of tea, and delivered to his subordinate, Left Minister Xiao Zhen.
Three days later, news of Yelü Shege's absence from Xijin Prefecture spread throughout Nanjing, though no one knew where the rumor originated.
Xiao Zhen, panic-stricken, hurriedly sought out Yelü Qin to inform him. "Yelü daren, is it true that the Second Prince is not in Xijin Prefecture? Wasn't he recovering from a hunting injury at your residence?"
Yelü Qin was equally shocked upon hearing this. "How could such rumors spread?"
Xiao Zhen exclaimed, "So the Second Prince really isn't in Xijin Prefecture?"
Yelü Qin urgently replied, "No, he's not! This is bad. His Highness came to Xijin Prefecture a month ago to recover from his injury, using it as an excuse to leave the capital and avoid the scandal involving the Fourth Prince and Princess Anding. Now that this news has reached Shangjing, even if His Majesty doesn't inquire, Yelü Han and Yelü Ding will seize this opportunity to question the Second Prince's whereabouts. This is critical. You've done well. I'll go find the Second Prince immediately."
Xiao Zhen anxiously said, "We mustn't ruin the Second Prince's plans!"
On the 27th of October, the first snow of the year fell in Shengjing.
The Liao envoys remained in the guesthouse, demanding an explanation from the Song Dynasty.
Tang Shen stepped out of the Censorate, opening his oil-paper umbrella, ready to step into the snow. Just then, the sedan chair of Imperial Counsellor Liu Dushan emerged from the gate. As a third-ranking official, Liu Dushan was Tang Shen's superior. Tang Shen immediately stopped and saluted slightly in respect.
Liu Dushan noticed Tang Shen through the sedan chair's curtain and called out, "Halt the chair."
Tang Shen looked at him in surprise as Liu Dushan lifted the curtain and smiled, "Tang daren, are you heading home?"
Tang Shen replied, "Yes, daren."
Liu Dushan glanced at the falling snow and remarked, "The snow is quite heavy. Why isn't Tang daren taking a sedan chair?"
Tang Shen smiled wryly, "Daren must be teasing me. According to Song law, only third-ranking officials are allowed to use official sedan chairs."
Liu Dushan was momentarily taken aback. "Ah, I forgot."
It wasn't entirely Liu Dushan's fault. Everyone in the court knew that Tang Shen, despite holding a fourth-rank position, wielded the authority of a third-rank official. Due to his young age, Zhao Fu wouldn't promote him too quickly, so he deliberately sent Yu Chaosheng to serve as the Left Deputy Imperial Censor of the Silver Pull Division, placing him on equal footing with Tang Shen and subtly elevating his status.
Liu Dushan said, "The Censorate and the Ministry of Revenue are quite close. Perhaps Tang daren could wait and return with Wang daren?"
Tang Shen was startled. "Senior Brother is back?!"
Liu Dushan smiled. Indeed, Tang Shen and Wang Zifeng were very close, as Tang Shen had instinctively referred to the other as "Senior Brother."
Liu Dushan continued, "This official went to Qinzheng Hall at noon today and happened to run into Wang daren. It seems he just returned from Jinling Prefecture. The snow is heavy, so Minister Tang could also go directly to the Ministry of Revenue to find Wang daren."
Tang Shen saluted in gratitude. Liu Dushan closed the sedan chair's curtain and departed.
The snow fell heavily from the sky, and the biting cold wind cut through the air. Yet, Tang Shen's heart burned with anticipation. He tightly gripped the umbrella handle, pondering for a long time in the snow. Finally, he made up his mind, turned around, and headed toward the Ministry of Revenue. Summoning great courage, he arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, only to be told by a government worker, "The Minister left for the palace half an hour ago and hasn't returned yet. It's already past office hours, so the Minister might not come back to the Ministry today."
The fiery anticipation in Tang Shen's heart was instantly extinguished by the heavy snow.
He softly muttered, "Oh," and silently turned back, holding his oil-paper umbrella.
The snow fell gently, softly landing on the umbrella, silent and serene. As Tang Shen approached the Censorate, he noticed a sedan chair parked at the entrance from a distance. He glanced at it briefly before lowering his gaze to the accumulating snow on the ground, feeling both calm and desolate.
As he reached the Censorate's gate, a clear, gentle voice called out. Tang Shen's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he thought he had misheard and continued walking.
Until the voice, filled with amusement, called again, "Little Junior Brother."
Tang Shen abruptly turned around. In the vast, white snow, Wang Zifeng stood beside a sedan chair, draped in a snow-white fox fur cloak, smiling at him. Snowflakes settled on his jet-black hair like delicate ornaments, making him appear both cold and radiant, a striking contrast of black and white.
Tang Shen stood frozen, staring at Wang Zhen in the distance.
Seeing him like this, Wang Zhen sighed inwardly. How could he bear to see him distressed?
He reached out his hand and said softly, "Come here, Jing Ze."
Tang Shen stood still, as if he hadn't heard, and didn't move.
Wang Zhen gazed at him with a quiet intensity. After a long while, he finally conceded. He let out a long sigh, then stepped forward and took Tang Shen's hand, holding the umbrella for him as he led him into the sedan chair.
The warm air inside the sedan chair jolted Tang Shen awake. He realized he was now sitting beside Wang Zhen, their hands still clasped in the confined space.
Tang Shen instinctively tried to pull away. "Senior Brother..." His voice trailed off as he realized Wang Zhen had already released his hand without any resistance.
Tang Shen slowly looked up at Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen smiled at him, as gentle as ever, and said softly, "I happened to pass by the Censorate. The snow is heavy, so I thought I'd give you a ride."
AN: Little Tang Lang: Has my senior brother... stopped liking me?