The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 133 Imperial Fury
As the night deepened, shadows danced among the flowers, and the moon cast its mesmerizing glow.
Yanchun Pavilion was nestled on the western side of the imperial garden, hidden among lush trees. Its windows, made of specially crafted crystal glass from Baibao Pavilion, gleamed under the brilliant palace lights, creating a dazzling spectacle. Officials, dressed in their formal court robes, took their assigned seats.
To the emperor’s left sat the Second Prince Zhao Shang and the Fourth Prince Zhao Jing, while the Fifth Prince Zhao Ji sat to his right. Officials arranged themselves according to rank.
Tang Shen’s seat was neither too close nor too far from the emperor. To his left sat the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and to his right, a Hanlin Scholar.
Though the banquet at Yanchun Pavilion was not a family feast, it bore some resemblance to one.
After the emperor took his seat, he exchanged a few words with his sons before turning his attention to several high-ranking ministers. Their conversation was private, and those seated further away couldn’t hear a single word—such was the mark of imperial favor.
Tang Shen, having just "recovered from illness," was unable to drink alcohol. He sipped tea in silence, occasionally glancing toward the emperor.
The emperor’s face appeared pale. He, too, abstained from wine, instead drinking a bowl of dark medicinal broth at intervals. He occasionally spoke with Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji and Right Prime Minister Wang Quan, while the three princes made multiple attempts to join the conversation—only to be repeatedly shut out, their faces reddening in frustration.
Behind the emperor stood a figure—not the head eunuch Ji Fu, but a round-faced monk dressed in simple robes.
The monk idly rolled a string of Buddhist prayer beads through his fingers, a serene smile gracing his face. Suddenly, he lifted his gaze and met Tang Shen’s eyes.
Tang Shen’s heart clenched, and he immediately looked away.
The monk, Shanting, smiled slightly. After a moment, he bent down and whispered something into Zhao Fu’s ear. The emperor chuckled.
Midway through the banquet, one of the princes could no longer restrain himself.
Fourth Prince Zhao Jing stepped forward. “After traveling to Jizhou, I have acquired a rare stone from beyond the heavens. Its shape is most peculiar, and upon seeing it, I was overcome with joy. I wish to present it to you, Imperial Father.”
The emperor’s expression flickered with interest. “A stone from the heavens? Bring it forward.”
Zhao Jing’s attendants carried in a large stone half as tall as a grown man. The officials gasped in amazement upon seeing its shape.
“This celestial stone resembles a Ruyi scepter—a true omen of prosperity and good fortune!”
The emperor, too, was pleased. He smiled and said, “You have been most thoughtful.”
Zhao Jing beamed with delight.
Seeing the Fourth Prince seize the spotlight, the other two princes could not sit idly by.
Zhao Shang and Zhao Ji quickly presented their own gifts in an attempt to win the emperor’s favor. However, while their treasures were valuable, they lacked the symbolic auspiciousness of Zhao Jing’s Ruyi-shaped celestial stone.
By the xu shi (7-9pm), the banquet concluded, and the officials departed from the palace.
As Tang Shen exited Yanchun Pavilion, he cast a final glance back. There, he saw Shanting following closely behind Zhao Fu, quietly fading into the shadows.
The next day was New Year's Eve.
With all officials on holiday, Tang Shen helped Aunt Yao and Feng Bi decorate the house. The family gathered joyfully to make dumplings.
That night, just as they sat down for their meal, a knock sounded at Tanhua Residence.
Yao San answered the door and returned with a letter. “It’s from Youzhou.”
Tang Shen immediately unsealed it. Inside, he found only a single line of poetry—an altered version of an old verse:
"If love is to last forever, should it not also yearn for each and every day?"
Though the alteration was clumsy, Tang Shen’s heart warmed. He carefully placed the letter in his study's document drawer.
As he stepped back outside, Yao San was preparing to light fireworks. Seeing him, Yao San grinned. “Little boss, would you like to set this one off yourself?”
Tang Shen rolled up his sleeves and smiled. “Leave it to me.”
With a loud bang, the firecracker shot into the sky—heralding the start of a new year.
Yet, while fireworks brightened the night sky over the city, the imperial palace was shrouded in an eerie silence.
On New Year's Eve, while commoners celebrated with family feasts, the imperial family gathered for their own.
That afternoon, Prince Zhao Ao entered the palace. This year marked the first New Year’s Eve without the Empress Dowager, and he was expected to accompany the emperor.
Not all imperial members were invited—only Zhao Ao, his Princess Consort, Prince Heir Zhao Qiong, the three Princes, and their respective mothers. The gathering totaled about ten people.
At first, the banquet proceeded in relative harmony.
But after half an hour, the Second Prince Zhao Shang, eager to flatter his father, raised his cup in a toast and spoke a few words.
Suddenly, Zhao Fu slammed the table, his expression twisting in fury.
"Your grandmother has been gone for less than a year, and you’ve already forgotten her? Is this how my ‘filial’ son repays me?!"
Zhao Shang’s eyes widened in shock.
The room fell into stunned silence. No one even recalled what Zhao Shang had said to trigger such wrath.
His mother, Consort Zhen, quickly stepped forward to plead on her son's behalf. She assumed the emperor was simply overwhelmed by grief.
But the moment she spoke, Zhao Fu let out a bitter laugh, his gaze ice-cold.
"Have you two been eagerly awaiting my death then?"
Zhao Shang collapsed to the floor, his face drained of color. Consort Zhen stood frozen in horror, utterly speechless.
The family banquet ended on this chilling note.
That night, Consort Zhen was confined to her palace to "reflect on her transgressions." Zhao Shang was imprisoned in a small Buddhist temple hall, where he was ordered to recite scriptures ninety-nine times and transcribe one hundred copies of the Guanyin Sutra before he could be released.
When Zhao Ao left the palace, he was still bewildered. Turning to his son, he muttered, “What just happened? We were all just eating, and then suddenly, the Empress Dowager came up?”
Zhao Qiong had no answers.
Zhao Ao frowned. “I need to see my imperial brother. He was truly devastated by Imperial Mother’s passing. Zhao Shang made a mistake, but my imperial brother mustn’t let his anger ruin his health—it isn’t worth it.”
Princess Consort Jing pulled him back. “Don’t go. This is imperial business. Even if you are a prince and his brother, you cannot interfere.”
After a moment of hesitation, Zhao Ao relented and left the palace without intervening.
Two days later, news of Zhao Shang being imprisoned in the palace spread.
Tang Shen, holding a relatively minor position, heard of it later than most. But when he did, he also caught wind of another rumor—
The emperor had fallen ill from rage.
When he met Zhao Qiong at Qianli Tower, Zhao Qiong recounted the family banquet.
“I also don’t know what happened. One moment, His Majesty was in good spirits, speaking with my father. The next, Zhao Shang said a few words, and he suddenly exploded.” Zhao Qiong sighed. “His Majesty is also truly unwell. This morning, my father went to the palace to attend to him.”
Since the Empress Dowager's death, Zhao Fu had been falling ill frequently as if overcome with old age—and each time, his condition was severe enough that it was a miracle he recovered.
After bidding farewell to Zhao Qiong, that evening, an unexpected guest arrived at Tang Shen’s home.
The Chief Astronomer of the Astronomical Bureau, Li Xiaoren, was brought into the flower hall. Seeing him, Tang Shen saluted, “This lower official greets Li daren.”
In just a few short months, Li Xiaoren had become skeletal, his cheeks sunken, his lips tinged blue, looking like a man recovering from grave illness.
Tang Shen recalled that at the Yanchun banquet, Shanting had attended the emperor, while Li Xiaoren was absent.
He cautiously asked, “Li daren, have you been unwell?”
As expected, Li Xiaoren nodded. “I caught a severe chill last month. I only just regained the strength to leave my bed.”
Tang Shen replied, “You must take care of yourself.”
Li Xiaoren hesitated. Then, in a hoarse voice, he asked—
"Is Wang Zifeng, Wang daren still in Youzhou?"
Tang Shen understood immediately—he was here for Wang Zifeng.
"Senior Brother is still in Youzhou and has not returned. The affairs of the Silver Pull Division keep him too busy; it will likely be a few more months before he comes back to the capital."
Li Xiaoren’s expression twisted in distress, and he coughed heavily a few times. "Ai, what should I do?"
Tang Shen looked at him calmly and said, "If you have pressing matters, daren, you can write a letter to Youzhou. But Senior Brother is certainly not coming back anytime soon." His tone made it clear—he had no intention of interfering and wasn’t even interested in asking why Li Xiaoren had come.
Li Xiaoren hadn’t expected Tang Shen to be so indifferent. His face stiffened momentarily before he finally blurted out, "Tang daren, you don’t know—there is truly something wrong with that monk, Shanting! Ever since he arrived, His Majesty’s health has never improved! To tell you the truth, though I have been unwell and unable to enter the palace, my two apprentices have been serving inside all this time. Do you know what one of them saw yesterday? He saw Shanting secretly meeting with the Second Prince, who is imprisoned in the Buddhist temple hall. Their behavior was far too familiar!"
Tang Shen’s heart trembled, but outwardly, he only showed a trace of surprise. "Is that so?"
Li Xiaoren insisted, "Would I lie about such a thing?"
"Has daren informed His Majesty of this?"
"Well…"
Tang Shen pressed on urgently. "This… I don’t even know what to make of it, nor what should be done! Why hasn’t Senior Brother returned yet? Perhaps daren should write to Youzhou immediately and ask him what should be done!"
Li Xiaoren continued speaking, but Tang Shen only played the part of someone flustered and helpless, eager to seek Wang Zifeng’s advice. Disappointed, Li Xiaoren finally gave up and took his leave.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Zhao Fu’s illness still showed no improvement. Prince Zhao Ao remained in the palace, attending to him.
By evening, Tang Shen was at home reading when a sudden knock came at the door. Yao San opened it to find a middle-aged man dressed as a steward. Seeing Yao San, the man smiled and gave a polite bow. Yao San, having never been bowed to before, quickly imitated the gesture in return.
The man asked, "Is this the residence of Tang Shen, Tang daren, the Court Gentleman Consultant?"
Yao San led him inside. Upon seeing Tang Shen, the man also bowed and said, "Greetings, Tang daren."
Tang Shen gave him a once-over and asked curiously, "And you are?"
The middle-aged man smiled. "I am a steward from the Right Prime Minister’s residence. My master invites you to his home for a meal. It is the New Year, and he has yet to meet with you. I have been sent to escort you."
Tang Shen found it a bit strange but cupped his hands in salute. "So, you are from Wang xianggong’s residence. Then, I shall comply with your master’s invitation."
Soon, Tang Shen was seated in a carriage on his way to Wang Quan’s residence.
Along the way, he pondered deeply. He did not believe that Wang Quan would invite him over simply for a meal. Like Wang Zifeng, Wang Quan also hailed from the prestigious Langya Wang clan—a noble family of impeccable manners. If it were Wang Zifeng or Tang Shen visiting each other’s homes, they could do so freely, without formal invitations. But Wang Quan was different. Even if he was aware of Tang Shen’s relationship with Wang Zifeng, he wouldn’t summon him so abruptly.
Carrying these doubts, Tang Shen entered the Right Prime Minister’s residence.
Before he could say a word upon seeing Wang Quan, the Right Prime Minister simply smiled slightly, pointed at the table full of dishes with his chopsticks, and said, "Eat."