The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 128 Wang Zifeng's Tactics!
Tang Shen fell silent for a moment, then said, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for giving me a ride."
Wang Zhen replied, "It's nothing."
The sedan chair was quiet for a while, neither of them speaking. Finally, Tang Shen broke the silence, "Senior Brother, you've been in Jinling for quite some time. Did something important happen?"
At first, Tang Shen had thought Wang Zhen had returned to Jinling because he was angry with him, avoiding him. But after five or six days, he realized that Wang Zhen's trip couldn't have been solely because of that. It made sense for Wang Zifeng to return to Jinling, but it was impossible for him to stay away for over ten days just because of personal feelings.
Wang Zhen glanced at Tang Shen. What he loved about Tang Shen was his intelligence and caution. He answered simply, "The Military Silver Exchange Bank in Gusu."
Tang Shen was surprised, "So Senior Brother returned to Jinling for this matter?"
Wang Zhen countered, "If not for this, then for what?"
Tang Shen was left speechless.
He had thought Wang Zhen had returned to Jinling in a fit of anger because of his words. Now it seemed it had nothing to do with him at all. Wang Zhen had always planned to return to Jinling. He had used the pretext of visiting family to handle official business privately. That was his true purpose.
A bittersweet feeling welled up in Tang Shen's heart. Wang Zhen hadn't left because he was angry with him, which relieved Tang Shen. But if he hadn't left because of him, then what had Tang Shen been thinking and feeling during those ten days in Shengjing? And what about what happened ten days ago... Had Wang Zifeng really not cared at all?
Tang Shen's heart was in turmoil, but when it came to expressing his thoughts, he couldn't find the words.
Wang Zhen lifted the sedan chair's curtain, "It seems we've reached Caiqi Villa."
Tang Shen, "Huh?"
"I remember when you first came to Shengjing five years ago, I often sent you pastries from Caiqi Villa. Back then, you were just a boy." Wang Zhen looked at Tang Shen with gentle eyes, no longer filled with affection but more with tolerance and nostalgia. He said to the sedan bearers, "Go buy some pastries."
The sedan chair stopped, and the bearers quickly returned with a package of warm pastries, handing them to Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen, "Do you still like pastries, little Junior Brother?"
Tang Shen instinctively replied, "Actually, I never really liked pastries."
Wang Zhen was taken aback, "Is that so... Back then, I saw you eating quite a lot, so I thought you liked them." He sealed the package again and chuckled lightly, "So it turns out you only ate them because I gave them to you. As the saying goes, 'When an elder gives, one dare not refuse.' You had no choice but to eat them every time?"
Tang Shen's eyes widened. He suddenly realized he had said the wrong thing.
An ordinary person might not have read too much into Tang Shen's words, but Wang Zhen immediately understood. Tang Shen had accepted all the pastries he had given him back then simply because he wanted to please Wang Zifeng and didn't dare to reject his kindness. Wang Zhen was still giving Tang Shen face by attributing it to "an elder's gift."
Wang Zhen stored the pastries in a hidden compartment of the sedan chair and closed his eyes to rest, saying nothing more.
Outside the window, the snow fell heavier, and for some reason, the sedan bearers moved slower than usual.
Tang Shen's heart was heavy. Finally, he couldn't hold back and spoke, "Senior Brother..."
Wang Zhen acted as if he hadn't heard.
"Senior Brother..."
Wang Zhen still didn't open his eyes.
Tang Shen clenched his teeth and said, "Senior Brother Zi Feng!"
Wang Zhen opened his eyes, looking surprised, "What is it?"
Tang Shen, "Are you still angry with me?"
Wang Zhen's elegant eyes widened in astonishment, "When was I ever angry with you?"
Tang Shen, "...Really?"
"Of course."
The sedan chair continued forward, jolting slightly, causing the backs of their hands to brush against each other. Tang Shen's body temperature was naturally higher, while Wang Zhen's hand was slightly cold. The touch startled Tang Shen, but before he could react, Wang Zhen subtly moved his hand away.
Tang Shen's heart plummeted into an icy abyss. It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, chilling him to the bone in the midst of winter.
He suddenly realized something. Since returning from Jinling, Senior Brother had changed. It seemed... he no longer liked him.
Scenes from the past flashed before his eyes.
Five years ago, by the lotus pond, they had first met. Tang Shen had been eloquent and resourceful, doing everything he could to leave a deep impression on the other.
After that, it was this person who had guided him step by step in the treacherous world of officialdom, clearing the thorns from his path.
That was Wang Zifeng. How could he not know that Tang Shen had been using him all along?
He had known from the start.
From the very beginning, Tang Shen had intended to use Wang Zhen as a stepping stone to climb to great heights. However, fate had other plans. He came to respect and admire his senior brother, and he could no longer be that heartless, ungrateful person. He began to genuinely see Wang Zhen as his elder brother and close friend.
Who in this world had been kinder to him than Wang Zifeng?
At the Xuji Tower, it was this person who had said to him, "Comrades in the same school are called friends; those with the same aspirations are called companions."
In Cizhou City, it was this person who, under the stars, had taken him in his arms and saved him from danger.
Wang Zifeng had once owned a painting he adored. He had treasured it, cherished it, and couldn't bear to part with it. For many years, he had never made up his mind about the painting's fate. Back then, Tang Shen had thought his senior brother was hiding some secret. Now he finally understood: he was that painting, and Wang Zhen was the one who was in love with the painting.
Wang Zhen had long harbored feelings for him, but this path ahead was fraught with difficulties. He couldn't bear to drag Tang Shen into it, so he had endured for years, never revealing his true feelings.
For Tang Shen's sake, he had endured for so long, yet Tang Shen had done nothing in return. Instead, he had repeatedly hurt this person's heart.
Wang Zhen had asked him, "Did you see it? My sincere heart."
Tang Shen's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
He had seen it long ago. For the past five years, day and night, he had seen Wang Zifeng's sincere heart and how well he had treated him!
"Senior Brother..."
Wang Zhen still had his eyes closed and didn't respond.
Tang Shen called out urgently, "Senior Brother!"
Wang Zhen was inwardly planning to open his eyes after one more call. He believed in moderation—teasing too much would backfire. He needed to proceed carefully.
Tang Shen whispered, "Wang Zifeng..."
Wang Zhen was slightly surprised. He sensed that he might have teased a bit too much this time. Just as he was about to open his eyes, a warm touch pressed against his cheek. All thoughts of strategy and planning vanished in an instant. Wang Zhen's eyes flew open to see Tang Shen avoiding his gaze, lips tightly pressed, fingers clenched in his sleeves.
The moment Tang Shen kissed him, he regretted it.
If Wang Zhen really didn't like him anymore, this would only shatter the delicate balance between them.
Sure enough, after being kissed, Wang Zhen didn't show any signs of joy. He looked at Tang Shen expressionlessly. Tang Shen's heart sank. He clenched his teeth and explained, "Senior Brother, don't take it to heart. I was too impulsive. I... I didn't expect this. Please don't dwell on it."
"Don't take it to heart?"
Tang Shen, "Yes, Senior Brother, please don't be angry..."
Wang Zhen suddenly laughed. He said joyfully, "Don't take it to heart? How can I not take it to heart!"
"Tang Jingze, you're mine now."
Tang Shen looked up at Wang Zhen in shock, but before he could see clearly, a scorching kiss descended, silencing all his words.
Almost without any surprise, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Wang Zhen caressed Tang Shen's lips while kissing him gently. He did it so effortlessly, so smoothly, it was almost infuriating. Tang Shen's body stiffened, unsure of how to respond.
Finally, Wang Zhen released him but continued to stroke his lips with his fingers.
"I'm so happy."
Tang Shen's lips parted, but no words came out.
Wang Zhen said sincerely, "I had already given up hope, no longer daring to ask for more. I never expected you to say such things, to do such things... Jing Ze, how could I resist? Yes, I couldn't resist." After justifying himself, Wang Zhen leaned in to kiss him again, but a hand suddenly blocked his path.
Wang Zhen was slightly surprised, then he kissed Tang Shen's palm instead. He looked up, "En?"
After the initial shock, Tang Shen's sharp mind finally started working again.
He had only said one sentence, and Wang Zifeng had reacted like this, leaving no room for argument. How could this be the behavior of someone who didn't like him? How could this be the same cold, indifferent person from before?
Tang Shen's teeth ached with frustration. He glared at the man before him and asked, "Senior Brother, I suddenly have some questions. Could you answer them for me?"
Wang Zhen, "Oh? What questions?"
"Why were you so cold to me today?"
Wang Zhen looked astonished, "Cold? Was I? Why do you say that, little Junior Brother?"
Tang Shen: "..."
"Earlier, Senior Brother said you had given up hope and didn't want to talk about..." Tang Shen paused, then continued, "Didn't want to talk about us anymore."
Wang Zhen sighed, his gaze sincere, "Yes, but I never expected that you also had feelings for me."
Tang Shen: "..."
Tang Shen, "Then let me ask another question. Senior Brother said today that you gave me a ride because the snow was heavy and it was on your way?"
Wang Zhen's smiling eyes rested on Tang Shen. He seemed to know what Tang Shen was going to say next, but he didn't mind. Instead, he gently responded, "En."
Tang Shen said indignantly, "On your way? Senior Brother, you probably don't know this, but before I saw you, I had just come from the Ministry of Revenue. The officials there said you had gone to the palace! How could you be on your way? How could you go from the palace to the Censorate to give me a ride?"
Wang Zhen said delightedly, "Little Junior Brother, you went to the Ministry of Revenue? Were you looking for me?"
Tang Shen: "..."
Tang Shen, flustered and angry, exclaimed, "Wang Zifeng!!!"
Wang Zhen hugged him and laughed heartily, completely shedding the graceful demeanor of a nobleman. Even his brows and hair were filled with joy, an irrepressible joy. Unfortunately, Wang Zhen's joy didn't last long. No matter how slowly the sedan chair moved, it would eventually reach its destination.
Tang Shen broke free from his embrace and quickly got out of the sedan chair to head home. After taking just one step, he heard Wang Zhen's voice behind him, "Little Junior Brother."
Tang Shen turned around to see Wang Zhen holding the sedan chair's curtain with one hand, looking at him with a gentle smile.
"Did you see the peony I gave you?"
Tang Shen was stunned.
Zhen and Wei, flowing wide and clear; men and women, holding orchids fair…
So the scholars and maidens, make sport together...
Gifting each other peonies.
Wang Zhen smiled leisurely. This time, he didn't hide it from Tang Shen. Right in front of him, he said to the sedan bearers, "No need to walk so slowly anymore. Just go at a normal pace."
The sedan bearers: "Yes."
Tang Shen: "..."
Wang Zifeng, happy and carefree, drifted away. Tang Shen returned home in a daze. An hour later, Tang Shen looked up at the sky and sighed, "Wang Zifeng, Wang Zifeng, how could I have fallen for your tricks!"
Tang Shen's actions had proven a universal truth to the masses: Not a single punctuation mark in Wang Zifeng's words could be trusted!
AN: Little Tang Lang: This is too much! Wang Zifeng, you're too much!
Old Wang: To be honest, today's events weren't part of my plan. It's because you love me too much, little Junior Brother.
Little Tang Lang: ???? I love you too much????
Old Wang [regretfully]: Yes, so I hadn't even used many of my tactics before you willingly took the bait.