The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 152 Returning To The Capital
When Grand Preceptor Zhou entered Funing Palace, no one else was allowed in. Even Ji Fu stood beside Tang Shen, waiting outside for a quarter of an hour before the palace doors opened from within.
Ji Fu hurried forward, smiling ingratiatingly, "Grand Preceptor, has His Majesty awakened?"
"Not yet."
Of course not. Grand Preceptor Zhou was just a man, not a god. Zhao Fu had been unconscious for so many days; how could he wake up just because he had returned? It was unclear why Ji Fu asked such a question, but he wore a concerned and troubled expression, "His Majesty has been unconscious for over twenty days, Grand Preceptor. What should we do? This servant is just a eunuch and has no ideas. But this servant always believes that His Majesty, as the true dragon Son of Heaven, will surely be fine."
Grand Preceptor Zhou glanced at him, his voice firm and resolute, "Naturally."
Ji Fu had been smiling so much that his face was almost stiff. Finally, Grand Preceptor Zhou shifted his gaze away from Ji Fu and looked at Tang Shen, who was standing nearby.
Tang Shen had already prepared himself. He bowed respectfully and said, "This lower official, Tang Shen, Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, greets the Grand Preceptor." Without waiting for Grand Preceptor Zhou to ask, Tang Shen directly explained why he was there, "His Majesty has been unconscious for many days. Every day, Qinzheng Hall sends an official to stand guard outside Funing Palace. Today, it is my turn."
Grand Preceptor Zhou, with one hand resting on the sword at his waist, stood tall and imposing. He said, "I have heard Jing De mention you before."
Tang Shen replied, "This lower official has met General Li a few times."
Grand Preceptor Zhou exchanged a few more words with Tang Shen, mostly questions from an elder to a junior, without showing any particular favor or disfavor. Just as suddenly as he had arrived, the Grand Marshal of the Realm's Military Forces stepped into the snow, his boots leaving deep footprints behind.
Snowflakes settled on his cloak, and the wind howled, making the fabric snap and flutter.
Ji Fu patted his chest, still shaken, and exchanged a few pleasantries with Tang Shen before re-entering Funing Palace.
A snowflake drifted down from the eaves. Tang Shen reached out and caught it in his palm. His hand was warm, and the snowflake quickly melted. When Tang Shen looked up again, Grand Preceptor Zhou's figure had already disappeared into the vast snowfall, no longer visible.
Grand Preceptor Zhou's sudden return to the capital was no small matter and immediately drew widespread attention.
Tang Shen was also very curious, but with Wang Zhen still far away in Jinling and not yet returned to the capital, he had no one to ask. It wasn't until the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, when Wang Quan's wife celebrated her birthday, that Tang Shen was invited to the Wang residence for a meal. After the meal, Wang Quan summoned several of his trusted confidants to his study.
Almost all the key members of the Wang faction had gathered in this small study.
Tang Shen didn't quite count, as he wasn't officially part of the Wang faction, but due to his special status, Wang Quan had invited him as well.
Once everyone had gathered, Wang Quan sipped his hot tea and began, "Grand Preceptor Zhou has returned to the capital. What are your thoughts on this?"
Everyone voiced their opinions.
"Grand Preceptor Zhou has been with His Majesty for many years. When His Majesty was still a prince, he studied under Li Mohe, the Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion. However, Grand Secretary Li passed away thirty years ago. For His Majesty, Grand Preceptor Zhou is his true mentor and friend. This time, His Majesty's headache came on so fiercely that it must truly be a critical moment for Grand Preceptor Zhou to return to the capital."
"I also think so. This time, His Majesty might really..."
The speaker trailed off, but everyone understood the implication.
Wang Quan turned to Tang Shen, "I heard that on the day Grand Preceptor Zhou returned to the capital, it was your turn to be on duty in the palace?"
Everyone turned to look at Tang Shen.
Tang Shen stood up and saluted slightly, "Yes. That day, it was my turn to stand guard outside Funing Palace, and I happened to run into the Grand Preceptor."
"Did you notice anything unusual, Tang daren?"
Tang Shen replied, "Nothing unusual. After the Grand Preceptor entered Funing Palace, he only stayed for a quarter of an hour before leaving."
An official sighed, "That's only natural. His Majesty is unconscious. What could the Grand Preceptor do even if he stayed? Sit by the bed and wait?"
Tang Shen added, "But the Grand Preceptor didn't show any signs of extreme grief either."
Wang Quan's eyes lit up, "How do you mean?"
Tang Shen carefully analyzed the situation from that day and speculated, "The Grand Preceptor's return to the capital couldn't have been just to see His Majesty. The Grand Preceptor has been away fighting battles for years, and he and His Majesty have always understood each other as ruler and subject, with no rift between them. If His Majesty's condition is truly as dire as you all say, beyond the help of medicine, the Grand Preceptor would surely be deeply distressed. But from the Grand Preceptor's demeanor and words... it seems there might still be hope."
Wang Quan asked, "What kind of hope?"
Tang Shen was at a loss for words. He truly couldn't say!
Fortunately, Grand Preceptor Zhou didn't keep them waiting for long. The next day, a renowned divine doctor was summoned to the palace to diagnose and treat Zhao Fu.
In the past, Tang Shen had also believed in the idea of great talents hiding among the common folk. Novels and TV shows often portrayed divine doctors who lived in seclusion in the mountains, only to descend and effortlessly solve problems that even imperial physicians couldn't handle. But now, having seen more of the world and truly entered the inner circles, he realized that in this era, imperial authority was supreme!
If the emperor wanted something, there was nothing he couldn't obtain.
Could some random "divine doctor" from who-knows-where really surpass the imperial physicians? That was pure fantasy. The imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital were, in the eyes of the common folk, each a divine doctor in their own right.
But this divine doctor had been brought in by Grand Preceptor Zhou.
The officials were filled with doubt: Could this divine doctor truly be a hidden gem, capable of curing the emperor's illness?
Everyone watched and waited. Soon, another New Year passed, and Zhao Fu still hadn't awakened. The three princes remaining in the capital were like ants on a hot pan. Their hearts burned with anxiety, and many thoughts they had once entertained but later suppressed crept back into their minds like clinging parasites. They tried their best not to think about it, but how could they forget?
After the New Year, the three princes took turns entering the palace to attend to the emperor.
As it became clear that the emperor might not wake up, and with the state unable to function without a ruler for even a day, the officials in the court gradually began to form their own opinions.
On the second day of the second lunar month in the thirty-fifth year of Kaiping, the Spring Dragon Festival.
Tang Shen, dressed in a brand-new official robe, braved a cold spring rain to arrive at Qinzheng Hall. Spring rain was always silent and fine. Tang Shen had brought an umbrella, but it was of little use. The light rain dampened the hem of his robe. He tidied himself up slightly, and soon after, Xu Linghou, the Left Vice Minister of Revenue, arrived.
Seeing Tang Shen's damp robe, Xu Linghou smiled and said, "Since there's nothing urgent today, Tang daren, why don't you head back to the Ministry of Works first?"
By "returning to the Ministry of Works," he was essentially telling Tang Shen he could go home and have the day off.
In the past, Wang Zhen had often used the excuse of "returning to the Ministry of Revenue" during his duties to disappear to who-knows-where. For example, when Tang Shen first met Wang Zhen, the Minister of Revenue should have been on duty at the Ministry of Revenue, but instead, he had appeared at Fu Wei's residence.
Xu Linghou was one of Wang Zhen's most trusted confidants, even more favored than Qin Si. Tang Shen teased, "The officials of the Ministry of Revenue are all well-versed in this art!"
Unexpectedly, Xu Linghou looked surprised, "Is there someone else who often goes to the Ministry of Works?"
Tang Shen replied, "Your Minister, Wang daren."
Xu Linghou laughed, "Isn't he Tang daren's partner?"
Tang Shen: "..."
When it came to thick skin, he was no match for the officials of the Ministry of Revenue!
However, Xu Linghou was mistaken about one thing. Wang Zhen was hardly Tang Shen's partner! Not only had they not shared a bed in a while, but they hadn't even seen each other in nearly half a year! Wang Zhen had gone to Jinling and had been unable to leave, staying there for a full three months.
The two exchanged a few more words when a messenger hurried into the room.
Xu Linghou asked, "What's the matter? Why the rush?"
The messenger replied, "Reporting to both daren, His Majesty has awakened! Prime Minister Xu has ordered us to inform all the officials in their offices to immediately go to Funing Palace."
Tang Shen and Xu Linghou both opened their mouths slightly, equally stunned.
No one had expected that after being unconscious for two months, Zhao Fu would actually wake up!
Qinzheng Hall was located within the palace, so when the emperor awoke, the officials of Qinzheng Hall were the first to arrive at Funing Palace. However, no one was allowed inside because Grand Preceptor Zhou was speaking with the emperor inside. After nearly an hour, the chief eunuch Ji Fu came out to announce, "His Majesty summons Prime Ministers Xu, Wang, Chen, and Geng to enter the hall."
The four prime ministers immediately entered the hall, and this time, they stayed for just over an hour before emerging.
The four of them had complex expressions on their faces. Xu Bi looked up at the more than twenty high-ranking officials from Qinzheng Hall waiting outside, among them his proud student Yu Chaosheng. Xu Bi waved his hand and said, "Everyone may return today. His Majesty has just awakened and is still unwell. Starting tomorrow, Qinzheng Hall will send two officials each day to stand duty at Funing Palace."
Everyone responded in unison, "Yes."
The officials all left, but Grand Preceptor Zhou remained in Funing Palace.
Although Zhao Fu had awakened, he was still bedridden and needed time to recover. However, the next day, an imperial edict was sent to Jiangnan: Zhao Fu summoned Wang Zhen back to the capital.
Four days later, Wang Zhen, the Senior Grand Secretary of the Left, returned to Shengjing, covered in dust.
Wang Zhen had returned to Shengjing in the morning, and that afternoon, Tang Shen received an edict summoning him to the palace for an audience with the emperor.
The two met again, this time in front of Funing Palace. Tang Shen looked at his senior brother, whom he hadn't seen in half a year, with mixed emotions. The longing they felt couldn't be conveyed through letters alone. Both of them gazed deeply at each other. Wang Zhen raised a finger to his lips and softly said, "Shh."
Tang Shen's lips curved into a smile, "Let's go, Wang daren."
The two exchanged a smile and stepped into Funing Palace together.
As soon as they entered the hall, Tang Shen was hit by a strong scent of medicinal herbs. Grand Preceptor Zhou was not in the hall. Ji Fu led Wang Zhen and Tang Shen into the bedchamber, where an elderly man with graying hair stood guard by the dragon bed.
"Your subjects Wang Zhen and Tang Shen pay our respects to Your Majesty."
Zhao Fu's condition was not as weak as outsiders might have imagined. At this moment, he was lying in bed, propped up by pillows, reading a memorial. Hearing their voices, he looked up. When Tang Shen saw his face, he was shocked: the emperor had become so thin!
Zhao Fu had never been this thin before. His cheeks were sunken, and his face was lined with more wrinkles. But his eyes were clear and bright. Seeing Tang Shen and Wang Zhen, he set the memorial aside and waved them closer, "Come closer. I don't have the strength to speak loudly with you now."