The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 141 The Spring Breeze Never Crosses The Jade Gate Pass
The official document from the Ministry of Personnel was quickly issued, and Fu Xiru resigned from his official position to return to his hometown.
After staying in Shengjing for another month, Fu Wei met up with a few old friends and, feeling that he had no more regrets, packed his belongings and left Shengjing.
"It's just a pity that my two students are still in Youzhou and haven't returned yet."
Wang Quan smiled and said, "Once you return to Changzhou, won't Zi Feng come to visit you when he returns? You can rest assured and go. You're free now, without the burden of official duties, truly able to travel and enjoy the landscapes, becoming the Master of Insignificant Talent."
This statement wasn't wrong. Changzhou is located in the Northern Zhili region, very close to Shengjing, so it wouldn't be difficult for Wang Zhen and Tang Shen to visit Fu Wei.
However, although Fu Wei often mentioned returning to Changzhou, he didn't actually go back immediately.
After leaving Shengjing, he traveled south along the Grand Canal, visiting famous mountains and rivers, and enjoying drinks and conversations with several reclusive literary masters. By April, he arrived in Gusu.
Gusu is a place blessed with outstanding people and good energy. As soon as he disembarked, Fu Wei exclaimed, "When you arrive in Gusu, you see houses all built along the rivers." The numerous water channels and ditches, like a dense web, formed a magnificent and graceful Gusu city.
Having resigned from his official post, Fu Wei naturally didn't disturb the local officials in Gusu. Accompanied by his Wen Shu and Fu Qin page boys, he arrived at an elegant and quiet residence in a carriage. Upon knocking, the old housekeeper who opened the door was surprised to see him, his eyes welling up with tears as he exclaimed, "Fu xianggong!"
Fu Wei laughed, "I have already resigned from my post; there's no more 'Fu xianggong.' Just call me the Master of Insignificant Talent. Didn't your master used to call me that?"
The housekeeper nodded repeatedly and stepped aside to let him in, "Please come in."
Fu Wei stepped into the Liang Residence.
Liang Song's wife had passed away many years ago, and they had no children. After his death, his only nephew, Xu Hui, was appointed as a county magistrate and left to take up his post six years ago. The Liang Residence was now only inhabited by the housekeeper and a few loyal servants. They kept the large manor spotlessly clean, with the master's study and bedroom remaining exactly as they were six years ago.
After looking around, Fu Wei entered Liang Song's study. He carefully examined the room and was surprised to see a piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall, "Is this 'Viewing Yueyang Tower' written by Zuoshan Xianren last year? The original is actually here?"
The housekeeper replied, "Indeed, it is the original work of Zuoshan Xianren."
Zuoshan Xianren was a famous calligrapher of the dynasty, and Fu Wei had met him once in his youth. Not every great master prefers to live in seclusion; Zuoshan Xianren was a thorough businessman. He would write a few pieces of calligraphy each year to auction off. His works were excellent, but also extremely expensive.
Fu Wei looked at it for a while, stroked his beard, and smiled slightly, "Jing Ze had such a thing and didn't show it to me first, just hung it here?"
The housekeeper's heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his head without speaking.
The housekeeper hadn't read Liang Song's letters, but he knew that Tang Shen had gone to Shengjing six years ago to become Fu Wei's student. Over the years, Tang Shen would visit the Liang Residence whenever he returned to Gusu. Even when he didn't return, Madam Tang always took care of both households. Otherwise, how could a few servants manage such a large manor?
But the housekeeper didn't know how much Fu Wei knew. If Fu Wei misunderstood Tang Shen's intentions in becoming his student, it could ruin Tang Shen's plans.
Fortunately, Fu Wei didn't say much more. He asked, "Where is Liang Bowen buried?"
The housekeeper immediately sent a few attendants to take Fu Wei to Liang Song's grave in a carriage.
Fu Wei had Wen Shu prepare a pot of good wine and Fu Qin bring out a piece of calligraphy and painting. He poured the wine in front of Liang Song's tombstone and placed the painting on the ground, setting it alight with a fire starter. No one knew which painting he burned, but he did so without hesitation, suggesting it couldn't have been too valuable.
Fu Wei took out a small silver leaf from his pocket and buried it in the soil in front of Liang Song's grave.
"Liang Bowen, oh Liang Bowen, you really were a schemer. Back then, I just forgot my money pouch, and you treated me to a meal, then made me take on a student. That was a big loss for me. When we meet on the Bridge of Forgetfulness, you'll have to treat me to a few more pots of wine, or I'll make you regret it."
After speaking for a while longer, Fu Wei left with his two page boys.
After staying in Gusu for two days, Fu Wei took a boat north to Jinling.
The Tang family only learned of Fu Wei's visit to Gusu three days later. Madam Tang immediately sent someone to look for him, but Fu Wei had already left. Tang Yun said, "Mother, Fu daren is the teacher of Cousin Jing Ze. We should have entertained him properly when he came to Gusu. Now that he's already left, what should we do?"
Madam Tang was also worried, but after some thought, she said, "Since Fu daren didn't want to make a big deal of his visit, let's pretend we didn't know. Just write a letter to Shen'er and inform him that Fu daren has been to Gusu."
"Yes."
The news of Fu Wei's travels didn't reach Youzhou.
By April, Youzhou still showed no signs of spring, truly a place where the spring breeze does not cross the Yumen Pass.
During these two months, a major event occurred in the Liao State.
In March, the Liao Emperor went hunting in Nanjing's Xijin Prefecture, which should have been a joyous occasion for the emperor and his subjects. However, during the celebration banquet, the eldest prince, Yelü Zhan, angered the emperor, who flew into a rage and had the prince escorted back to Dading Prefecture to reflect on his mistakes, forbidding him from leaving his residence.
When this news reached the Song court, many officials understood that it was merely a result of the power struggle between the second prince, Yelü Shege, and the third prince, Yelü Han, involving the eldest prince. The eldest prince was never a candidate for the throne, and now, like the fourth prince, he had been maneuvered out of contention, which was expected.
However, Tang Shen wrote a secret letter and sent it to Shengjing.
Su Wenyun received the letter, his expression changed, and he immediately went to the palace to see the emperor.
Upon hearing Su Wenyun's report, Emperor Zhao Fu showed rare interest. Sipping his ginseng tea, he smiled amiably and said, "Is that so? Fei Ran, please tell me in detail."
Su Wenyun bowed respectfully, "Yes."
Su Wenyun recounted the events of the Xijin Prefecture hunt in full detail.
The eldest prince of Liao, Yelü Zhan, was a man who loved to affect a cultured demeanor but was utterly uncultured. The Liao people admired Song culture, and the nobility aspired to Song cultural etiquette. Among them, the second prince, Yelü Shege, excelled. He was well-read, elegant, and dignified, a renowned scholar in the Liao court.
Yelü Zhan wanted to emulate his younger brother and become a cultured literatus. However, his attempts were clumsy and unsuccessful, neither achieving the grace of a gentleman nor accomplishing any significant tasks. Additionally, the ordinary background of his birth mother meant he was never a candidate for the throne.
Though Yelü Zhan was foolish, he wasn't completely stupid. After the fourth prince, Yelü Longzhen, was caught in an affair with Princess Anding, Yelü Zhan couldn't sleep at night, constantly worried, fearing he would be the next Yelü Longzhen. Driven by this intense anxiety, Yelü Zhan finally decided to give up any ambitions for the throne, wanting only to live out his life in wealth and comfort.
He went to see the Grand Preceptor, Yelü Ding, to pledge his loyalty.
The eldest prince voluntarily stepping aside and supporting the third prince was a great boon for the third prince's faction.
There are no walls without ears, and when this news reached Yelü Shege, he was furious but kept his anger hidden. The next day, a handsome young servant from the second prince's residence fell ill and was wrapped in a straw mat and thrown outside the city.
Originally, Yelü Shege had planned to organize a grand event during the Xijin Prefecture hunt to please the emperor. But with this development, he conspired with Yelü Qin and others to execute a scheme.
Yelü Zhan was known for his lust. During the hunt, Liao princes were allowed to bring a concubine. Yelü Shege arranged for Yelü Zhan's concubine to be sent to an official's tent. The official, not daring to touch a richly dressed stranger, was confronted by Yelü Zhan, who beat him up and comforted his weeping concubine, thus missing the celebration banquet.
It wasn't a major issue, but the emperor had always favored Yelü Shege.
Yelü Shege seized the opportunity to criticize Yelü Zhan, asking sternly where the eldest prince had been and why he was late. Yelü Zhan, not daring to lie to the emperor, told the truth. Yelü Shege sighed, "Elder Brother, it's just a woman. How could you delay such an important event as the celebration banquet?"
Yelü Zhan thought to himself: You don't like women, what do you know?
But he didn't dare say it, swallowing his anger.
Seeing this, Yelü Han naturally took the chance to mock Yelü Shege, "I heard that Second Brother didn't bring his favorite concubine to the Xijin Prefecture hunt. Oh, but I did see a handsome young eunuch in your tent. Is he your new page?"
Yelü Shege's expression changed, and the emperor grew angry.
The emperor was displeased with Yelü Shege but didn't want to punish his favorite son, so he punished Yelü Zhan instead. Yelü Zhan was truly caught in the crossfire, suffering unjustly.
Afterwards, the emperor summoned Yelü Shege privately. The once fierce Liao Emperor coldly said, "What young eunuch?"
Yelü Shege replied respectfully, "Just someone to warm the bed."
"Kill him."
"...Yes."
Leaving the emperor's tent, Yelü Shege let out a long breath and smiled slightly.
The saying goes, to kill ten thousand enemies, one must lose three thousand of their own allies. The emperor was angry with him, but a male concubine was a small matter. Even the emperor himself had had a few young eunuchs to warm his bed. Men play around; as long as it's not taken seriously, it's no big deal.
The emperor always thought Yelü Shege only liked to play with men, not that he exclusively liked men. To maintain appearances, Yelü Shege had many concubines in his residence.
If it was just playing around, it was harmless. But if he had no interest in women at all, that would be a serious issue.
After this incident, the emperor would only be slightly angry about the male concubines but would never suspect that Yelü Shege had orchestrated Yelü Zhan's downfall.
It was just a pity; that young eunuch was very lovely, with features somewhat resembling a Song man he had taken a liking to. He hadn't had the chance to enjoy him before having to send him to his death.
After a moment of regret, Yelü Shege called his trusted guard and said indifferently, "Kill him and throw the body in a remote forest."
"Yes."