Entering summer, the sudden rain came quickly and left just as fast.

As June formally arrived, the weather grew hotter day by day. Perhaps last summer’s excessive rainfall used up all the coolness, making this year’s summer particularly scorching. In Qinzheng Hall, the fourth-ranked officials were all drenched in sweat, but being in the imperial palace and part of Qinzheng Hall, they had to maintain decorum. So, despite being soaked in sweat, they couldn’t loosen their clothes and had to endure in silence.

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After reading through a memorial, Tang Shen pondered for a long time before writing two small lines at the end in green ink. He placed the memorial into the pile of memorials he had finished reading and picked up another one. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he began reading diligently again.

“Daren, it’s time for some mung bean soup.”

After noon, several dozen government workers carried in large vats of mung bean soup into the room.

The officials collectively sighed in relief and began drinking the soup. Although it lacked any sweetener and tasted somewhat bitter, at that moment, having a bowl of cold soup to cool off was an incomparable delight.

After finishing his soup, just as Tang Shen was about to resume his duties, a government worker arrived with a tray, placing a stack of memorials on his desk.

The government worker said, “Tang daren, per Xu xianggong‘s orders, starting today, your main task will be reviewing the military reports from the northwest.”

Tang Shen paused for a moment, looked up, and replied, “I have received Xu xianggong‘s orders.”

Later that evening, as he was about to leave the office, Xu Bi summoned Tang Shen and asked, “How did you find the military reports from the northwest today?”

Tang Shen lowered his head slightly and respectfully replied, “This lower official has mostly been reviewing memorials from local officials submitted to the capital, so it will take some time to adjust to reading military reports. But rest assured, xianggong, I will do better tomorrow.”

Xu Bi smiled, “Tang daren, you’ve been to Cizhou and seen the official road there. You must know that the purpose of building these three official roads is not just for commerce but also for military readiness. Many have speculated about this, so you needn’t be surprised that I’m aware of it. While some in the court may guess at the reasons, the Liao people surely can as well. At the beginning of the year, a group of Liao people claiming to be bandits infiltrated Youzhou under cover of night and committed murder. The northwest is difficult, and the military situation there is crucial. You must review these reports carefully.”

Tang Shen calmly looked at the ground and replied, “Yes.”

As he left Qinzheng Hall, Tang Shen recalled the military reports from the northwest he had reviewed earlier that day.

Xu Bi was right: this year, the situation in the northwest was more severe than in previous years. Not only in Youzhou, but all the way east to Cizhou, there were signs of Liao incursions.

Most of the reports from local officials were written to inform the emperor of major local events, or sometimes simply to flatter him. These reports, however, would travel a great distance to reach the capital.

“But if I focus on the northwest military reports, I will no longer know what’s happening in the local regions.”

Tang Shen had his own thoughts.

Not all local officials’ reports would end up in Tang Shen’s hands for review. But now, he wouldn’t be seeing any of them at all.

Xu Bi’s actions aroused suspicion in Tang Shen, but he couldn’t discern any clear motives at the moment.

A few days later, the memorial Right Prime Minister Wang Quan submitted at the morning court session in early June began to take effect.

On June 29th, during the morning assembly in the Zichen Hall, Wang Quan stepped forward once more and said, “Since the late emperor’s reign, due to the constant wars between the Song Dynasty and the Liao State, the army’s need for provisions has long left the national treasury empty. But in the tenth year of Kaiping, the Song and Liao signed a peace treaty, and for the past nineteen years, both nations have ruled independently without conflict. Heavy taxes were imposed on the people due to the wars. Now that peace reigns, things should change.”

As soon as he finished speaking, someone interjected, “Wang daren, isn’t this statement inappropriate? While the Song and Liao have been at peace for nineteen years, the Liao people still eye us with greed. Their ambition is known to all! If we reduce the army’s provisions carelessly, who will bear the consequences if there is a sudden change?”

The speaker was a third-ranked general among the military officials.

Most of the Song Dynasty’s military officials guarded the borders, managing the regional armies. Many of those remaining in the capital were older men. Yet, these seasoned veterans were never afraid to challenge powerful ministers. Even a third-ranked deputy general dared to confront Wang Quan.

Wang Quan, however, did not get angry. He snorted and said, “General Zhao, when did I ever suggest cutting the army’s provisions?”

General Zhao replied, “Oh? Then what did you mean?”

Wang Quan ignored him and bowed to Emperor Zhao Fu, saying, “Your Majesty, I request permission to present the twenty-three articles of tax reform.”

Zhao Fu gazed at Wang Quan with a lingering expression, his eyes scanning the court. Finally, he waved his hand and said, “Announce it.”

The chief eunuch Ji Fu immediately stepped forward, producing a memorial and loudly reading it out.

The twenty-three articles of tax reform!

Ten days prior, Right Prime Minister Wang Quan had already mentioned these six words during the morning court, but it wasn’t until now that the officials learned what it entailed!

Wang Quan’s tax reforms began with land taxes, gradually stripping away layers of intermediaries until the reforms reached the aristocratic landowners. He aimed to streamline the tax collection process, even proposing that local taxes be sent directly to the central government, which would then allocate resources accordingly.

As Ji Fu finished reading the articles, the court was shocked.

In the past, local taxes were indeed handed over to the central government before being distributed, but no one had ever proposed doing it so thoroughly and meticulously!

If these reforms were implemented, the country’s tax revenue would indeed decrease in the short term, but the common people would become wealthier. Over time, as the people prospered, the national treasury would naturally fill again. The problem was, these reforms required highly efficient tax collection. While it might work in provinces close to the capital, what about those farther away?

At this point, Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji stepped forward and said, “The twenty-three articles of tax reform have both advantages and disadvantages, but they are not without merit. I propose the reestablishment of the Revenue and Expenditure Department to oversee the details of these reforms!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zichen Hall erupted in chatter.

Everyone looked up at Ji Wengji, standing at the front of the court.

Ji Wengji was a rather legendary figure.

Ji Wengji, courtesy name Yuan Xiu, was a jinshi during the reign of the previous emperor. As a young man, he was not well-known, having been sent by the emperor to serve as a county magistrate in Xingzhou, where he remained for six years. Later, thanks to a successful river management project by the Ministry of Works, his county happened to be on the planned route, and Ji Wengji’s fortune turned. He was quickly promoted three ranks to a prefectural governor within five years.

From then on, Ji Wengji’s legendary career began.

The Yellow River flowed through Xingzhou, entirely passing through it. Ji Wengji had considerable expertise in managing the Yellow River. Under his governance, the river never flooded once, and within Xingzhou, the people lived in peace and happiness, turning the region into a veritable paradise. Xingzhou grew increasingly prosperous, and after five years, the previous emperor noticed Ji Wengji’s capabilities and summoned him to Shengjing.

When Ji Wengji entered Shengjing, he was already forty years old. The following year, the Liao army invaded, and he went to fight in the northwest with the imperial army. 

Neither the previous emperor nor Grand Marshal Xu who commanded the three armies at the time, expected that a scholar over forty could lead a decisive defeat of the Liao army! The Left Prime Minister had no divine strategies, nor any legendary battles where he won against overwhelming odds. Yet, he steadily advanced, dividing and confronting the enemy, and ultimately dismantled the Liao army piece by piece. With 300,000 Song troops, he defeated the Liao army, which claimed to have 500,000 soldiers.

From then on, the Left Prime Minister, who came from humble origins, became a close confidant of the previous emperor. 

When Zhao Fu ascended the throne, Ji Wengji continued to achieve merit. In the 21st year of the Kaiping era, Zhao Fu personally appointed him as Left Prime Minister, overseeing all officials.

When Ji Wengji suggested reopening the Revenue and Expenditure Department, it shocked everyone. Some even quietly glanced at Wang Quan and Wang Zhen, the Minister of Revenue who stood not far behind him.

The Revenue and Expenditure Department had been a financial institution personally abolished by the founding emperor.

In the previous dynasty, there were six ministries, including the Ministry of Revenue, but the state’s financial power was not in the Ministry of Revenue’s hands—it rested with the Three Departments: the Household Department, the Salt and Iron Department, and the Revenue and Expenditure Department. The Ministry of Revenue was managed by the Household Department, while the Three Departments were overseen by the Prime Minister. Most of the political power was held by the Prime Minister alone!

The founding emperor abolished the Three Departments and elevated the status of the Six Ministries to weaken the power of the prime minister.

Now, Ji Wengji suddenly proposed reopening the Revenue and Expenditure Department—how could the officials not be shocked?

However, Zhao Fu’s reaction was intriguing. His expression didn’t change much. He gazed at Ji Wengji and asked, “Why does Prime Minister Ji say this?”

Ji Wengji replied, “The 23 articles of tax reform, if truly implemented, will be challenging due to the bottom-up nature of this reform system. Historically, all reforms have been top-down, gradually expanding, making it easier to control. But the 23 articles of tax reform start with the common people, who form the majority—how to verify the financial adjustments and the outcomes of the reforms becomes crucial!”

At this point, a voice interrupted, “Is the Left Prime Minister suggesting reopening the Revenue and Expenditure Department or the entire Three Departments?”

The speaker was none other than Chen Linghai, the Left Vice Minister, who, like Ji Wengji, also came from humble beginnings.

Ji Wengji glanced at him and began to speak slowly.

A fierce debate erupted in the court.

As a fourth-rank minor official, Tang Shen had no chance to speak at such a time. He silently stood at the back of the officials, far enough away that he could only see the backs of the four prime ministers and Wang Zhen—he couldn’t even see Zhao Fu’s face.

Ji Wengji wanted to reopen the Revenue and Expenditure Department, but Chen Linghai disagreed, and of course, neither did Wang Quan.

Wang Zhen, the current Minister of Revenue, was Wang Quan’s nephew. If the Revenue and Expenditure Department was reopened, Ji Wengji would be dividing power from Wang Zhen—how could Wang Quan agree?

The court was locked in a heated debate.

Tang Shen listened for a long time and suddenly realized he hadn’t heard his senior brother speak. He instinctively craned his neck and secretly glanced at Wang Zhen. He saw Wang Zhen standing straight among the officials, holding his jade tablet high. When the arguments between the Left Prime Minister’s faction and the other officials reached a deadlock, Zhao Fu let out a light hum, and the court fell silent.

Zhao Fu’s gaze swept across the officials and finally settled on Wang Zhen. He smiled and said, “What does Zi Feng think?”

Wang Zhen stepped forward and said, “I believe that what the Left Prime Minister said is not without merit.”

As soon as he spoke, Xu Linghou, the Left Vice Minister of Revenue, and Qin Si, the Right Vice Minister of Revenue, both showed expressions of disbelief.

Zhao Fu, however, smiled and said, “I also believe it is not without merit. Proclaim it—beginning today, the Revenue and Expenditure Department will be reinstated!”

On the 29th of June, in the 29th year of the Kaiping era, the Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji reopened the Revenue and Expenditure Department.

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On the 1st of July, the Right Prime Minister Wang Quan began implementing the 23 articles of tax reform, starting with the provinces of North Zhili and South Zhili.

With the reopening of the Revenue and Expenditure Department, many familiar faces of Tang Shen were summoned one by one, including Yao Shan, the zhuangyuan of the same cohort as Tang Shen, and Mei Shengze, Tang Shen’s classmate and friend.

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The surroundings were silent, with only the chirping of birds and cicadas breaking the stillness at the Minister Residence.

Tang Shen looked at the helpless expression on Wang Zhen’s face and understood his meaning.

Tang Shen took out the letter Wang Zhen had given him that afternoon from his sleeve. He opened it again and read it before walking over to the desk. Using the flame of the candle, he set the letter alight. The paper crackled as it burned, quickly turning to ashes.

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Tang Shen said, “I understand your meaning, Senior Brother. But understanding is one thing, and my coming here today is another. I won’t hide it from you—part of me is curious, curious about what will happen next and what you’ll do. The other part is…” He paused before continuing, “The other part is concern for you.”

Wang Zhen stared at him for a moment, then said, “Your curiosity is only human. However, Jing Ze, you must neither hear nor ask. That is the way you should navigate the court with your current position. As for your concern…”

Wang Zhen smiled and said no more.

Tang Shen couldn’t grasp his full meaning.

What was Wang Zifeng planning? Why did he stop halfway through?

Given their relationship as senior and junior brothers, what Tang Shen said just now was truly heartfelt, without any pretense. Tang Shen was never one for deep scheming or suspicion. After three years of companionship with Wang Zifeng, even a stone would have warmed up by now. Tang Shen truly trusted his senior brother.

Moreover, he was now half considered a member of the Wang faction. His achievements today also had Wang Zifeng’s influence. Hurting Tang Shen would be akin to cutting off Wang Zifeng’s own arm—utterly counterproductive.

Could someone as intelligent as Wang Zifeng do such a thing?

Tang Shen thought for a moment and said, “What you said isn’t wrong. I know, though I am now a fourth-rank attendant secretary, when the time comes, I’m still just a minor official. But to not ask or hear—didn’t you tell me that a year ago? Back then, I managed to keep my head down, but His Majesty didn’t allow me to continue doing so. I was forced to go to Cizhou, and everything that followed happened because of that.”

Wang Zhen replied, “You going to Cizhou was, in fact, because of me.”

Tang Shen was taken aback. “Because of you?”

Wang Zhen said, “Our Majesty is very skilled at balancing power.” It was the first time Wang Zhen discussed court politics with Tang Shen, and Tang Shen immediately focused, listening carefully as he continued, “Some things are out in the open for all officials to know, and you should be aware of them too. Others you might have already guessed. Last year, Su Wenyun, Song Xun, and I went to the north to investigate the embezzlement case related to the snow disaster in the south four years ago.”

Tang Shen replied, “I had guessed as much.”

Wang Zhen asked, “And how much do you know about Su Wenyun?”

Tang Shen thought carefully before answering, “Su daren was formerly a junior minister of the Court of Judicial Review, a fourth-rank official. When I was a chamberlain, I often saw him entering the Immortal Ascension Platform alone, highly favored by His Majesty. Now, he has been promoted to a third-rank Right Vice Minister of Works, with a promising future.”

“And compared to you?” Wang Zhen teased.

Tang Shen was at a loss for words. After a long pause, he finally said, “Senior Brother, please don’t make fun of me.”

Wang Zhen stopped smiling, his tone turning calm. “This is His Majesty’s balancing strategy.”

Tang Shen froze.

“Su Wenyun was fortunate enough to find the real mastermind behind the embezzlement. Barring any surprises, once he returned to the capital, he would be heavily rewarded and promoted. Indeed, he was promoted to the third rank. This result was expected, so before it happened, His Majesty sent you to Cizhou because, little Junior Brother, you are considered my person.”

Tang Shen mulled over the phrase “my person.” It sounded a bit strange, but it was true. To the emperor, to Su Wenyun, and even to all the court officials, he was half a member of the Wang faction.

Seeing that Tang Shen did not deny it, Wang Zhen glanced at him subtly before continuing, “You went to Cizhou. Even if you didn’t achieve anything noteworthy, you endured hardship. Even if you didn’t obtain the ledger, upon your return to the capital, His Majesty would have rewarded you nonetheless.” After a pause, Wang Zhen suddenly said, “Jing Ze, barring any surprises, I won’t be promoted again for the next three years.”

Tang Shen was startled. “What do you mean, Senior Brother?”

“In the Wang faction, my uncle holds the position of Right Prime Minister, a first-rank official, second only to the Left Prime Minister, Ji Wengji. I hold the second rank, overseeing a ministry, deeply favored by His Majesty. To counterbalance Su Wenyun’s faction, His Majesty cannot use my uncle or me, so he must look at others within the Wang faction. At that time, in Shengjing, the best candidate was you.”

Tang Shen felt as though his eyes had been opened overnight.

A year had passed, and he had never thought that when the emperor sent him to Cizhou, it was to prevent Su Wenyun from gaining too much power.

Wang Zhen said, “Su Wenyun comes from the Su family in Northern Zhili, the most prestigious family in the region. During the time of the founding emperor, the Su family contributed greatly to the dynasty. Over the past century, they’ve produced many talented individuals. His Majesty uses me to counterbalance Su Wenyun, and Su Wenyun to counterbalance me. Even though we both understand His Majesty’s intentions, there is no breaking this stalemate.”

The most frightening thing is not that you are unaware you’re being used, but that you know it and can do nothing about it.

The emperor’s balancing strategy was something even the likes of Wang Zhen and Su Wenyun could not resist. However, this status quo was not without its benefits. Otherwise, at their relatively young age, they would never have risen so quickly to their current positions.

One could say that while the emperor used them, they were also using him.

However, Tang Shen sensed something was amiss. “Senior Brother, you come from the noble Wang family of Langya, and Su Wenyun from the prestigious Su family of Northern Zhili. What about the commoners?”

Given the emperor’s suspicious nature, it was impossible for him to trust only noble families. He must be using commoners to balance the nobility.

Among the four prime ministers, the Right Prime Minister, Wang Quan, and the Right Vice Prime Minister, Xu Bi, were from noble families, while the Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji, and Left Vice Prime Minister, Chen Linghai, were from a commoner background. This was the best evidence of the emperor’s balancing strategy—otherwise, how could it be a perfect two-to-two split?

Wang Zhen said calmly, “Isn’t there Li Jingde?”

Tang Shen was momentarily puzzled, not recalling who Li Jingde was.

Wang Zhen continued, “The matter of using paper currency is quite different from ordinary affairs. Should a dispute arise, the real storm will only take place among officials of the third rank and above. So, little Junior Brother… this matter does not involve you.”

When Tang Shen left the Minister Residence, Wang Zhen uncharacteristically did not see him off.

Looking back at the closed gates of the residence, Tang Shen’s expression was complex.

“This time, Wang Zifeng truly intends for us to part ways temporarily, with no further entanglements.”

The issue of replacing currency with paper had far-reaching implications, so much so that even Wang Zhen could not guarantee his own safety. He didn’t want to drag Tang Shen into the mess. Tang Shen also understood the unsaid part: even if he were dragged in, he would be of little help and might even risk being crushed. 

Tang Shen wasn’t well-versed in monetary or policy matters. At eighteen years old, he had only been in the court for three years. Even if he wanted to become proficient, it would take time.

With a long sigh, Tang Shen thought to himself, “If it was a peaceful era, if I had a choice, I’d rather go to the Ministry of Works to build roads and bridges for the country!” But then again, it is a peaceful era now, yet even in peaceful times, he couldn’t live freely as just a technician needing only skills.

However, what Wang Zhen didn’t know was that despite essentially driving Tang Shen away, Tang Shen had no intention of fully relinquishing this matter. He quietly resolved to keep an eye on things.

A few days later, Su Wenyun returned to Cizhou to continue overseeing the construction of the Cizhou official road.

Before leaving, he unexpectedly waited for Tang Shen on the palace road leading to Qinzheng Hall. Su Wenyun, dressed in his deep red official robes, was still fair-skinned and strikingly handsome, even after half a year of exposure to the elements. When he saw Tang Shen, he smiled slightly, “Tang daren, what a coincidence, we meet again!”

Unable to avoid him, Tang Shen respectfully bowed, “Greetings to the Right Vice Minister of Works.”

Su Wenyun squinted his eyes, gazing at Tang Shen for a moment before suddenly laughing and pointing to the sky. “Tang daren, look at this sunny day. Do you think it will rain tomorrow?”

Tang Shen thought to himself: You just said it’s a sunny day, and now you think it’ll rain tomorrow?

But aloud, he replied, “I don’t know.”

“I, however, think a big rain is coming to Shengjing. Tang daren, you’d better be prepared with rain gear. Getting wet is no big deal, but catching a cold and falling seriously ill would be troublesome. If I return from Cizhou and don’t see you again, that would truly be unfortunate.”

Tang Shen: “…”

Who exactly are you cursing?

This time, Tang Shen couldn’t be bothered to respond. After all, Su Wenyun seemed to disapprove of him no matter what he did, so there was no need to pay attention to this round of provocation. Besides, Tang Shen was a supporter of the Wang faction. If Su Wenyun had the ability, he should take down Wang Zifeng first before coming after him.

Su Wenyun didn’t push the issue further. With a sneer, the Right Vice Minister of Works turned and left. The next day, he departed for Cizhou again.

Ironically, the next day was still a sunny day, and no heavy rain came as Su Wenyun had predicted.

However, on June 14th of the 29th year of Kaiping:

During morning court, the Right Prime Minister Wang Quan stepped forward and said, “Since the 19th year of Kaiping, the provinces of Southern Zhili and Huaxi have struggled to collect taxes. I have 23 proposals for tax reform, which I wish to present to Your Majesty.”

A gleam flashed in Zhao Fu’s eyes as he feigned surprise and said, “Oh, I’d like to take a look at that.”

Hearing this, the chief eunuch Ji Fu immediately descended from the high platform, took the memorial from Wang Quan, and handed it to the emperor. Zhao Fu opened it and casually skimmed over the text. Zichen Hall was utterly silent, save for the rustling of paper as Zhao Fu flipped through the memorial.

The Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji stood with his gaze lowered, lost in thought.

The Left Vice Prime Minister Chen Linghai cast a suspicious glance between Wang Quan and Ji Wengji but remained silent.

The Right Vice Prime Minister Xu Bi, on the other hand, seemed much more at ease. This veteran of three reigns calmly held his jade tablet and stared straight ahead at the emperor’s feet, as if nothing unusual was happening, as though Wang Quan had just presented a casual letter of greeting to Zhao Fu.

When Zhao Fu finished reading, he showed no reaction, placing the memorial back on the tray held by Ji Fu. “We will discuss this further,” he said.

Wang Quan responded, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Not long after, morning court ended, and the officials began to leave the palace.

However, the emperor summoned Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji and Right Prime Minister Wang Quan to Chuigong Hall for a private discussion, leaving the court officials to wonder what it was about.

Tang Shen, blending in with the group of fourth-rank officials, watched the two high-ranking ministers depart with a calm expression, though his mind was full of conflicting emotions. If he were still a chamberlain, serving in the palace today, he might have had the chance to learn what secret Zhao Fu intended to discuss with the two prime ministers in Chuigong Hall!

But he was not!

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Among the officials, as the Right Vice Minister of Revenue, Qin Si, left the palace, he stretched out his hand in surprise and said, “Huh, is it raining?”

AN: Little Tang Lang: You want to bully me? If you’ve got the guts, stomp on Wang Zifeng’s face and come fight me, go on, do it!

Neighbor Wang: …[Begins practicing calligraphy, writing four characters over and over—‘Spoiled due to favor!’]

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Tang Shen stood in the middle of the room, looking ahead at Wang Zhen, who appeared calm and composed, and behind was Meng Lang, the Minister of Rites, who was clearly enjoying the spectacle. His head immediately started to throb.

This Minister Meng was no easy character to deal with.

During the imperial examination, it was Meng Lang who served as the chief examiner. While the emperor was nominally the examiner for all the jinshi, Meng Lang could be considered Tang Shen’s “teacher” of sorts. Unfortunately for Tang Shen, Meng Lang had a penchant for teasing him. The first time Tang Shen had come to the Qinzheng Hall, when he was still a chamberlain, Minister Meng had dragged him through the Six Ministries like a showpiece on display!

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Tang Shen, a minor official of the fourth rank, could not afford to offend Meng Lang, but that didn’t mean Wang Zhen couldn’t.

Wang Zhen placed his tea cup down, the sound of the ceramic cup landing on the sandalwood table making a crisp click. He looked at Tang Shen and said, “There may not be much direct connection between the Palace Secretariat and the Ministry of Revenue, but the Palace Secretariat represents the Song of Heaven in overseeing the empire. Now that Tang daren has come to me, it must mean I, this lowly official, have committed some grievous error, having neither sacrificed myself for the nation nor worked myself to exhaustion.”

Tang Shen was stunned.

The words hung in the air, and even Meng Lang, sitting at the opposite table with a fifth-rank official from the Ministry of Rites, was taken aback.

What kind of drama was Wang Zifeng playing at?

Meng Lang, quick-witted as ever, thought to himself: Representing the Son of Heaven in overseeing the empire? Isn’t that just helping the emperor review memorials, summarizing those filled with flowery nonsense in a sentence or two? And this counts as overseeing the empire? Then we, the second-rank ministers, must be managing the entire empire for the Son of Heaven!

Before Minister Meng could fully grasp the situation, Wang Zhen spoke again. Pointing at Meng Lang, he addressed Tang Shen, “Tang daren, do you know who this second-rank official is?”

Tang Shen, still in a daze, performed a courteous bow and replied, “This is Minister Meng Lang, Meng daren of the Ministry of Rites.”

Wang Zhen continued, “Meng daren is a man of noble character, diligent in his duties. Before dawn breaks, in the pitch-black of Qinzheng Hall, it is only Meng daren’s room that remains lit. After the sun sets, of all the Six Ministries, only the Ministry of Rites keeps its lamps burning through the night! Meng daren is a virtuous official of the highest order, a rare clean and honest government servant in this era. Has the Palace Secretariat, representing the Son of Heaven, witnessed the unwavering loyalty and the burning passion of Minister Meng?”

Tang Shen: “…” What the hell?

Even Meng Lang was bewildered: “???”

Wait a minute, is Wang Zifeng complimenting me?

Minister Meng even stood up and went to the window for a look: The sky wasn’t raining blood, was it?

Wang Zhen stood up and said to Tang Shen, “Such a model official should be emulated by all the officials. His dedication should be made known to the world, and remembered by His Majesty. Tang daren, when you report on the Ministry of Rites’ affairs to His Majesty in the coming days, you must let His Majesty know to grant candles and oil lamps to the officials of the Ministry of Rites. The officials of the Ministry of Rites are working tirelessly day and night and are a model for us all.” After delivering this speech, both Tang Shen and Meng Lang still looked utterly dumbfounded, but Wang Zhen turned to Tang Shen and said, “Let’s go.”

Tang Shen followed Wang Zhen out of the room, where they went to a quiet spot for a private conversation, leaving Meng Lang and the fifth-rank official from the Ministry of Rites staring at each other in bewilderment.

After a long silence, Meng Lang finally realized: “That cunning Wang Zifeng! Since when did our Ministry of Rites work through the night, staying at the office?”

Meng Lang was now thoroughly trapped: Wang Zhen had first laid on heavy praise, proclaiming that the Ministry of Rites’ officials were models for all to follow. How could Meng Lang possibly object and say, “No, we don’t have that many good officials”? Afterward, Wang Zhen suggested reporting this to the emperor, so that the emperor would know that the Ministry of Rites’ officials were tirelessly working overtime on his behalf.

Now, fake overtime would become real overtime. Even if they hadn’t been working late before, they’d have to start now!

In the past, when Wang Zifeng messed with people, he only targeted the individual. But this time, Meng Lang felt like he had dragged the entire Ministry of Rites down with him.

Beside him, the fifth-rank official from the Ministry of Rites looked deeply aggrieved but dared not say a word.

Minister Meng gritted his teeth and muttered, “Does Wang Zifeng really think I’m afraid of him?”

The fifth-rank official whispered, “Minister, Wang daren is, after all, the Minister of Revenue… of Revenue… of Revenue…” He repeated it three times for emphasis. “Why provoke him?”

Meng Lang: “…”

The Ministry of Revenue controls the money! They handle the salaries!

Meng Lang regretted it deeply, swearing to never cross paths with Wang Zifeng again.

In modern terms, Meng Lang’s behavior could be perfectly summed up as “sassy.” Unfortunately, Meng Lang hadn’t yet learned this accurate term, so he could only describe his current feelings as deep regret.

Tang Shen followed Wang Zhen, winding through various corridors of Qinzheng Hall, eventually arriving at a quiet room.

Tang Shen was surprised, unsure where they were.

Wang Zhen explained, “This is the office of Wang Quan, Wang xianggong. Since he’s not here today, feel free to speak your mind, little Junior Brother.”

So this was Wang Zhen’s uncle’s office!

Tang Shen got straight to the point, telling Wang Zhen about the memorial he’d seen today. He left nothing out, detailing every aspect to Wang Zhen. As Wang Zhen listened, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Other officials might not have noticed anything unusual from a memorial from Shu, but Wang Zhen, as the Minister of Revenue who had been in charge of finances for five years, immediately picked up on the potential implications when he heard the phrase “using paper as currency.”

Tang Shen paused, then offered his own opinion. Since the room was now empty except for the two of them, he no longer addressed Wang Zhen as “Minister,” but instead called him “Senior Brother.”

“Senior Brother, the issue of a money shortage in Song is nothing new. I may not be from the Ministry of Revenue, but I know the money shortage has been a problem since the previous emperor’s reign. Every time taxes are revised, combined with foreign trade, it’s difficult to keep the numbers consistent. On top of that, the national reserves of copper and silver aren’t exactly plentiful. Since the beginning of Kaiping, as the Song Dynasty has grown stronger, the money shortage has only worsened. I think ‘paper money’ could help alleviate the money shortage.”

Wang Zhen’s sharp gaze locked onto Tang Shen’s. After a long pause, he said, “I understand your meaning, little Junior Brother. But if we don’t address this, it might not be a big deal. Once we start, though, it will involve far-reaching implications, and the consequences won’t be clear in a day or two.”

Tang Shen understood that.

It wasn’t just this era—even if the government controlled the issuance of currency, just how many countries on Earth still had gone bankrupt? The replacement of copper, silver, and gold with paper money was an unstoppable historical trend, but also a double-edged sword. How to use it was a profound art that Tang Shen couldn’t grasp; avoiding misuse was even more difficult, and he was completely clueless.

But paper money was inevitable, and the sooner it appeared, the better for this era and for the Song Dynasty’s economy!

Tang Shen had a lot to say but found himself unable to voice a single word.

After a long silence, he looked at Wang Zhen’s fiery eyes and could only speak his heartfelt words: “I trust Senior Brother.”

Wang Zhen was momentarily stunned. A brief flash of surprise crossed his elegant face, then he smiled lightly and said, “Alright.”

No more words were exchanged, and the two went their separate ways.

When Tang Shen said he trusted Wang Zhen, it wasn’t just empty talk—he truly left everything in Wang Zhen’s hands. Whether Wang Zhen chose to ignore the matter or take action was no longer Tang Shen’s concern. He was not adept at handling such matters; leaving it to Wang Zhen was the most reasonable course of action.

Later that afternoon, Xu Bi brought several memorials and entered the palace to meet Zhao Fu.

As the evening approached and the day’s work was wrapping up, Tang Shen was just about to leave when he saw a deep crimson figure striding briskly through the front doors of Qinzheng Hall. They bumped into each other face-to-face, both momentarily stunned.

After a brief glance at each other, Tang Shen respectfully cupped his hands in greeting, “Su daren.”

Su Wenyun curled his lips into a smile, “Tang daren.” He gave Tang Shen a quick once-over, his shimmering eyes glinting with amusement. “What’s this? Leaving for the day?”

“Yes.” Although he didn’t want to deal with Su Wenyun, since Su Wenyun had no intention of leaving, Tang Shen had no choice but to politely ask, “Su daren has returned from Cizhou?”

After the collapse of the Jing River Bridge, Su Wenyun was promoted by Zhao Fu to the position of Right Vice Minister of Works, replacing the former Right Vice Minister, Xie Cheng. Last year, Su Wenyun went to Cizhou to oversee the construction of the official road there and had rarely appeared at court. Now that he was back, did that mean the Cizhou road was nearly finished?

Su Wenyun didn’t answer but instead remarked, “Tang daren has gained weight.”

Tang Shen instinctively responded, “Huh?”

“They say that a broad heart leads to a plump body. From what I see, Tang daren has been in a good mood these past six months.” Su Wenyun bared his white teeth in a cold smile.

Tang Shen, completely confused, quickly excused himself and left.

“Did Su Wenyun not study idioms properly? A broad heart leads to a plump body… How did he even pass the imperial exam?”

What Tang Shen didn’t know was that while Wang Zhen saw him as too thin, Su Wenyun was gnashing his teeth, thinking Tang Shen had gained weight. Why? Because in just two years, Tang Shen had been promoted from seventh rank to fourth rank, becoming a fourth-rank Secretariat official, a position close to the emperor! Such rapid advancement—who wouldn’t be happy?

Going from seventh rank to fifth rank was easy, but from fifth rank to fourth rank was incredibly difficult. Tang Shen’s promotion to fourth rank, wasn’t it only possible by riding Su Wenyun’s coattails?

Now, while Tang Shen was living the good life in Shengjing, enjoying food and drink every day, Su Wenyun was stuck in Cizhou, exposed to the elements.

Su daren was feeling quite emotional.

But no matter how much resentment Su daren had, it didn’t affect Tang Shen in the slightest.

The next day, during morning court, Zhao Fu casually mentioned the issue of using paper currency in Shu. This emperor, who was obsessed with cultivating immortality, brought it up as a joke for the officials to hear, without seeming to take it too seriously. However, once the matter reached the ears of the court, it stirred various thoughts among them.

By mid-June, the sun was blazing like a furnace, hanging high in the sky.

Each room in Qinzheng Hall had ice basins to help officials cool off, but the room for fourth-rank officials was so crowded that even the ice basins were of no use. Tang Shen was sweating profusely but still kept his official robes tightly fastened, not daring to show any signs of sloppiness.

As Tang Shen was reviewing memorials, a government worker suddenly entered the room and handed him a letter.

The other officials didn’t notice. Tang Shen hesitated, then opened the envelope. Upon seeing the writing, his gaze sharpened, and without a word, he tucked the letter into his sleeve. When it was time to leave, Tang Shen deliberately stayed behind, waiting in the room. From a distance, he saw Wang Zhen exiting his room.

Wang Zhen spotted Tang Shen immediately.

Tang Shen was about to speak, but Wang Zhen ignored him, his gaze passing over Tang Shen as if he hadn’t seen him at all, continuing to walk forward.

Tang Shen paused for a moment. Only after Wang Zhen had left did he make his own departure.

That night, Tang Shen visited the Minister Residence, where the steward welcomed him inside. After waiting for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Wang Zhen entered from outside.

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Tang Shen immediately stepped forward, “Senior Brother.”

Wang Zhen looked at him, his voice gentle with a hint of helplessness, “I’ve already told you, this has nothing to do with you. My clever Junior Brother, you surely understand my meaning, so why have you come again?”

Indeed, the letter that Wang Zhen had specifically sent earlier that day contained only one line—

“Everything has nothing to do with you.”

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After leaving the government office, Tang Shen waited for a while in Qinzheng Hall before getting into Wang Zhen’s carriage, and the two left the palace together.

In ancient times, there were also discussions about whether officials should work overtime or not. Just like in the modern world, superiors didn’t need to work overtime, and Wang Zhen rarely did. However, for someone like Tang Shen, a fourth-rank official in the Secretariat, it wasn’t only up to him when he could leave the office; he had to wait for his superior.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Would you dare to leave if your superior hasn’t left?

Fortunately, Tang Shen’s superior, the Right Vice Prime Minister Xu Bi, rarely stayed late at the government office due to his advanced age, so Tang Shen didn’t often need to work overtime.

The two didn’t go to Baibao Pavilion immediately but instead returned to their respective residences to change out of their official robes.

Wang Zhen came to the Tanhua Residence to pick up Tang Shen, and after Tang Shen finished tidying up, he walked out. When he saw Wang Zhen’s sedan chair, he was slightly surprised. After getting on the sedan chair, Tang Shen asked, “Senior Brother, weren’t we originally taking the carriage? Why are we now taking a sedan chair?”

Wang Zhen, dressed in white brocade, looked elegant and refined, holding a folding fan in his hand. As he tapped the fan handle on his palm, the red bloodstone hanging from it swayed gently.

“It’s not far from here to Zhengyangmen Street. Little Junior Brother, you don’t like to take a sedan chair?”

Tang Shen replied, “Not exactly.”

It’s just that the carriage was spacious, and with two grown men sitting inside, it wasn’t cramped at all. Now, the sedan chair felt rather crowded, forcing him to sit close to Wang Zhen. Tang Shen silently grumbled in his mind, but his attention was gradually drawn to Wang Zhen’s fan.

Wang Zhen noticed his gaze and asked, “Do you want to take a look?”

“En.”

Wang Zhen handed the fan to Tang Shen. Instead of opening it, Tang Shen held the red gemstone attached to the fan.

“Its color is like chicken blood, and its luster resembles fine jade. The texture is pure and smooth, like mutton-fat jade,” Tang Shen said, looking up. “Senior Brother, could this be Changhua chicken blood stone?” (TN: a rare and valuable gemstone unique to China. Found primarily in the Changhua region of Zhejiang Province, this stone is distinguished by vivid red markings that resemble splatters of blood, hence the name “chicken blood.”)

Wang Zhen immediately laughed.

With a soft sigh, Wang Zhen took the fan back. “It is indeed Changhua chicken blood stone.”

Tang Shen smiled confidently.

Having been in the ancient times for five years, ever since Tang Shen started doing business, he inevitably came into contact with rare antiques and gemstones. In the past, he wouldn’t have recognized a chicken blood stone, let alone the Changhua variety. But since Baibao Pavilion had plans to sell gemstone products recently, Tang Shen had read a few books and learned a bit. Now, he felt rather pleased to put his knowledge to use.

With a “snap,” Wang Zhen opened the fan and said softly, “I thought, Junior Brother, that when you took the fan, you wanted to look at the painting and calligraphy on it.”

“Huh?” Tang Shen was taken aback and looked at the fan.

On the white surface of the fan was a painting of a beauty feeding fish, with a verse written beside it.

“With messages sent through couriers and letters wrapped in fish motifs, this endless sorrow has been laid brick by brick, too numerous to count,” Tang Shen read aloud. (TN: from a poem by Song Dynasty poet Qin Guan (秦观), which expresses a deep, lingering sorrow tied to the ache of separation and the enduring hope of reunion.)

It was a scene of a beauty in sorrow, feeding fish while longing for a lover.

Tang Shen’s eyes flickered, and he began to flatter Wang Zhen. “Senior Brother’s calligraphy and painting are truly exquisite.”

The painting and calligraphy were both signed by Wang Zifeng.

Wang Zhen smiled but said nothing more.

Soon, they arrived at Baibao Pavilion.

Baibao Pavilion attracted all sorts of customers: officials’ wives, commoners—they could all be found in the store. However, when Wang Zhen and Tang Shen entered, many people gave them a second glance. Tang Shen thought they were looking at Wang Zhen and half-jokingly complimented, “Even in ordinary clothes, Senior Brother’s aura is still different from others.”

Wang Zhen glanced at him and asked, “Do you think it’s just me?”

Tang Shen was confused.

Wang Zhen smiled quietly and changed the subject. “Now that we’re here, what should we do?”

The staff, recognizing Tang Shen, approached to greet them, but Tang Shen waved them off, signaling that he would personally assist this guest. Tang Shen said, “Take a basket, and when you see something you want to buy, put it in. We’ll settle the bill at the other door.”

Wang Zhen picked up a basket, his movements smooth and effortless.

But Tang Shen frowned as he watched Wang Zifeng, adorned in gold and jade, carrying a basket like he was at the market. It didn’t sit well with him. Tang Shen promptly took the basket from Wang Zhen’s hand. “Senior Brother is a guest. I’ll carry the basket.” Sure enough, without the basket, Wang Zifeng regained his ethereal grace.

That’s more like it.

Wang Zhen saw through Tang Shen’s thoughts but found them endearing. But he didn’t comment and instead said, “Let’s go, then.”

The two began to browse through Baibao Pavilion.

The first floor mainly sold daily necessities, so most of the customers were ordinary citizens of Shengjing. As Wang Zhen and Tang Shen walked side by side, people instinctively turned to look at them. Tang Shen was unaware that it wasn’t just Wang Zhen they were looking at—they were also looking at him.

After three years as an official, Tang Shen had developed a certain aura of authority.

Beyond that, without realizing it, his constant companionship with people like Wang Zifeng had influenced him. His demeanor now carried a touch of aristocratic grace. Though not learned from childhood, it set him apart from ordinary people.

As the saying goes, “Near vermilion, one becomes red; near ink, one becomes black.” Spending time with ruffians gives one a streetwise air, while reading and writing cultivates a noble bearing.

Wang Zhen was in a particularly good mood today. He leisurely browsed the entire first floor before moving on to the second.

The two then strolled around the second floor and eventually arrived at a shelf displaying mirrors. In the first two days after Baibao Pavilion opened, customers eager to buy mirrors had completely blocked this shelf. Now, the rush had died down; those who wanted mirrors had already bought them, and those who couldn’t afford them wouldn’t linger.

Wang Zhen showed a rare expression of surprise and took a closer look. “It’s clearer than a silver mirror.”

Tang Shen smiled.

In ancient times, mirrors were mostly made of copper or silver.

For an ordinary household, owning a copper mirror was already a luxury, but the reflections were often blurry. A high-quality copper mirror could reflect its owner’s image clearly, while silver mirrors were reserved for wealthy families. Silver mirrors were expensive and beautifully crafted, with reflections nearly as clear as glass mirrors. However, silver mirrors still weren’t as transparent as glass, nor as affordable. So when Baibao Pavilion introduced glass mirrors, the wives and daughters of Shengjing’s elites immediately bought them in bulk.

Tang Shen said, “The hardest part of making these is the glass. In the future, Baibao Pavilion will also produce simpler mirrors for sale on the first floor, so that commoners can afford them too.”

As they were about to leave, Tang Shen signaled to a shop assistant, who brought over a full-length mirror.

The mirror clearly reflected both Tang Shen and Wang Zhen’s images. Wang Zhen looked at Tang Shen with mild surprise, and Tang Shen smiled. “This mirror is a gift for Senior Brother. His Majesty ordered my Tang family to replace the windows in the Chuigong Hall with glass panes, and our workshop struggled for a long time to create such large pieces of glass. Afterward, I had three large mirrors made from the leftover glass.”

Tang Shen coughed slightly. “One mirror is for His Majesty, and the other two are for Senior Brother and Sir. The two mirrors for you and Sir aren’t as well-crafted as the first one, since I was the one who designed them, and the patterns aren’t as refined either.”

Wang Zhen was silent for a moment, then smiled. “This one is perfect.”

Tang Shen thought to himself, did I finally pick the right gift this time?

This little shopping trip ended on a high note.

At some point, Tang Shen had developed the habit of giving gifts to Wang Zhen. At first, it might have been just to curry favor, but gradually, seeing Wang Zhen’s pleasure when receiving gifts put Tang Shen in a good mood as well.

Wang Zifeng treated him well, so Tang Shen wanted to return the favor, and gifting was one way to do that.

That night, Tang Shen had a pleasant dream, though he couldn’t remember what it was when he woke up—only that it had been very warm.

At the end of April, the Tang family’s workshop produced dozens of large glass panes, which were sent to the palace to replace the windows in Chuigong Hall.

Zhao Fu had originally mentioned in passing that Tang Shen should replace his windows, so that he would have an excuse to reward Tang Shen and elevate the Tang family to imperial merchants. Who would have thought that after installing the glass windows, Zhao Fu was so enamored with them that he enthusiastically had a new plaque inscribed for the inner hall of Chuigong Hall—

“Celestial Glass Dwelling”!

All the windows were made of glass; in the heavenly courts where the immortals resided, surely only such craftsmanship could be found!

Zhao Fu, in a great mood, rewarded Tang Shen with a heap of gifts. He also issued a new task: “Jing Ze, why don’t you replace the windows in my Zichen Hall, Daqing Hall… all with glass windows!”

Tang Shen inwardly groaned, but outwardly he said, “I am deeply honored and will not fail Your Majesty’s trust!”

Large glass panes were extremely difficult to make, and now the Tang family’s workshop would have to work overtime again.

The business of Baibao Pavilion gradually stabilized, and Tang Shen started to hand over the business affairs step by step to Tang Huang and Shopkeeper Lu.

In late May, Tang Shen was in Qinzheng Hall reviewing memorials. He opened one sent from a province and began to read. Slowly, Tang Shen’s expression grew serious. By the end, he started over and read it again.

After much deliberation, Tang Shen made up his mind and took the memorial to Xu Bi’s residence.

Tang Shen greeted him with a bow and said, “Xu xianggong, lower official Tang Shen has come across a memorial today and wishes to report it to you for your review.”

Xu Bi put down his book. “Oh? What memorial? Let me see.”

Tang Shen respectfully handed over the memorial.

Xu Bi opened it and after reading it, he laughed. “I didn’t expect such an interesting matter from Shu province. Using paper to replace silver and copper—this is indeed a clever idea. The roads in Shu are treacherous, and communication with the outside world has always been sparse, almost like an autonomous, self-governing country.” After a pause, Xu Bi added, “Let’s keep this conversation between the two of us; it stays in this room.”

Tang Shen naturally said, “Yes.”

Xu Bi continued, “The idea of replacing currency with paper may seem strange elsewhere, but in Shu, it is not surprising. This memorial is indeed intriguing. Leave it with me. I will personally deliver it to His Majesty today. You may go.”

“Yes.”

Tang Shen left Xu Bi’s residence, but his mind was preoccupied and he couldn’t calm his thoughts.

At this moment, the paper currency emerging in Shu province was not yet called “jiaozi” like in Tang Shen’s memory. It didn’t even have a name yet. But Tang Shen knew that paper money replacing copper and silver was an unstoppable historical trend. If this was handled well, it could lead to a grand success, perhaps even elevating the prosperity of the Song Dynasty’s economy to a new level!

According to the history of his old world, the promotion of jiaozi across the country didn’t happen overnight. It wouldn’t be possible, at least not during Zhao Fu’s reign. Even for Tang Shen, he wouldn’t see it in his lifetime.

How could he accelerate the national adoption of paper currency?

Should he consult Xu Bi?

Although Xu xianggong had once been an ambitious and capable figure, in recent years he had taken a backseat, staying out of worldly affairs and rarely offering opinions on court matters. He no longer sought great achievements, only avoiding mistakes. Discussing it with him would surely lead to nothing.

After much thought, Tang Shen decided not to return to the fourth-rank officials’ office but instead went to the room shared by the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Rites.

The Minister of Rites, Meng Lang, was instructing his subordinates on preparations for the end-of-month sacrificial ceremony. When he saw Tang Shen, he raised an eyebrow.

Tang Shen knocked on the door first. Wang Zhen, who saw him, looked surprised.

Wang Zhen: “Enter.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Tang Shen walked up to Wang Zhen’s desk, bowed, and said, “Lower official Tang Shen realized I forgot to mention something important to you yesterday. I wonder if the Minister has time now?”

Minister Meng deliberately laughed out loud, “Judging by your official robes, you seem to be a fourth-rank attendant secretary of the Secretariat, not a Ministry of Finance official. So, what business do you have with the Minister of Revenue?”

AN: Minister Meng: Wang Zifeng hasn’t called me out in three days, three days! I’m feeling restless! Just watch how I tease his little lover!

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Baibao Pavilion bought three shops in one go on Zhengyangmen Street and connected them to form a large market. Customers enter from the front door, and after walking around, they can see numerous counters. These counters are different from the long ones in ordinary shops, as they are short and small cabinets. Behind each cabinet stands a person, and when customers walk by and hand over their baskets, the employee immediately starts calculating the bill.

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The abacus clatters, and in no time, the bill is ready.

“One string and three coins in total. Respected customer, if you worry I may have miscalculated, you can check at the back counter. If there’s a mistake, and we’ve overcharged you, we’ll pay you back double.”

Hearing this, the elderly scholar was surprised and said, “Is there such a good deal?”

Without delay, the scholar, holding his goods, went straight to the long counter at the back to verify the price. The employee handed him a price list, and after calculating for a long time, the scholar sighed, “Indeed, no mistake. How come you didn’t calculate wrongly for me?”

The employee laughed and said, “Respected customer, would you like to see this? Today is the grand opening of Baibao Pavilion, and becoming a valued customer means you get a discount.”

“Valued customer? What’s that?”

The employee began explaining.

For the first three days after Baibao Pavilion’s opening, every customer only needs to spend half a string of coins to become a valued customer for half a year. Valued customers get discounts on many items when shopping and receive small gifts during holidays. Every customer who verifies their prices at the long counter is recommended by the employee to spend money to become a valued customer.

The elderly scholar hesitated at first, but seeing a butcher beside him buy the valued customer membership, he said, “Alright, I’ll get one too!”

On the first day of Baibao Pavilion’s opening, the people of Shengjing were truly amazed.

A general goods shop could operate like this!

No, this was not just a general goods shop—there was no such all-encompassing general goods shop in the world.

Those who bought goods at Baibao Pavilion bragged about its benefits to others after leaving.

“You didn’t see it, but it was packed with people! Baibao Pavilion is like a vast world with everything inside! Famous pastries from Gusu, fur coats beloved by the Liao people, goods from all over the country. Once you go in, you’ll be dazzled and won’t want to leave! It is truly remarkable!”

“Is it really as amazing as you say?”

“Why don’t you go and see for yourself?”

“Then I will!”

More and more people flooded into Baibao Pavilion.

At first, Tang Shen asked Shopkeeper Lu to hire more than eighty employees, and Shopkeeper Lu thought it might be too many. But by the end of the day, let alone eighty, Shopkeeper Lu was already considering whether hiring a hundred would be enough!

Shengjing was the capital of the Song Dynasty and the hub of roads connecting the north and south. To the south was the Grand Canal, which led all the way to Qiantang; to the north, transportation had been inconvenient, but with the construction of three new official roads, travel became much smoother.

The Grand Canal was built by an emperor of the previous dynasty and had already existed for hundreds of years. The three official roads, on the other hand, were constructed just last year under Zhao Fu’s orders. On the surface, Zhao Fu claimed they were for facilitating trade between the Song Dynasty and the Liao State, but the real purpose was to prepare in advance for potential war between the two nations. Many noticed how travel to the north became more convenient, but they didn’t realize that combining the northern roads with the southern Grand Canal placed Shengjing at the center, turning it into an excellent hub for trade!

With improved transportation came not only more people from other regions but also the rise of large-scale commercial centers and supermarkets, which would be very common in the modern world.

At nightfall, Baibao Pavilion closed its doors. After Shopkeeper Lu finished speaking with the employees, he headed to the back room.

Shopkeeper Lu’s face was beaming, so much so that it seemed he could hardly contain his joy, as if the word “happy” could be stamped on his forehead. Upon seeing Tang Shen, he respectfully bowed deeply and said, “Brilliant, truly brilliant! Little boss, just as you said, Baibao Pavilion’s business is different from other shops. While others are busiest during their grand opening, we will only get busier as time goes on. Eighty employees aren’t enough; tomorrow, I’ll go to the labor market and hire twenty more!”

Tang Shen had just returned from the government office after finishing his duties at the palace. Though he hadn’t personally witnessed the grand opening, he could imagine the scene from the delighted expressions of Shopkeeper Lu, Accountant Lin, and Tang Huang. He asked, “How was business today?”

Shoppkeeper Lu began reporting the earnings.

“…After deducting all expenses, Baibao Pavilion made a profit of one thousand and sixty-two taels today alone!”

This figure, excluding costs and other fees, represented pure profit. The enormous amount surprised even Tang Shen, who silently mused, “The people of Shengjing are indeed wealthier than those of Jinling and Gusu!”

Tang Shen said, “Be prepared. Tomorrow may be even busier.”

Shopkeeper Lu laughed with joy and said, “You can rest assured!”

Baibao Pavilion was likely to be busiest in its first few days, but after all, it was a supermarket. Shengjing had a population of over two million, and it wasn’t possible for every single one of them to shop at Baibao Pavilion. Those who did wouldn’t need to shop again for a while. However, Tang Shen estimated that the daily minimum net profit would still be around five hundred taels.

Rather than Baibao Pavilion, it was more like a treasure bowl that kept accumulating wealth.

Shopkeeper Lu said, “I’ll check the accounts tonight and deliver the ledger to your home. Little boss, you can go over it carefully and let me know if anything seems off.”

Tang Shen replied, “No need for that.”

Shopkeeper Lu was taken aback and stared blankly at Tang Shen. “What do you mean by that…?”

Tang Shen glanced at the astonished faces of Tang Huang and Accountant Lin, then smiled and said, “When we opened Xixia Tower, didn’t you have the same thoughts? After all, I’m a government official, having reached the fourth rank in the court, and I even have to attend the morning assembly. I don’t have that much time to manage the Tang family’s businesses. Shopkeeper Lu, we’ve known each other since Gusu, where you were the manager of Xixia Tower. It’s been four years now, hasn’t it?”

Shopkeeper Lu finally understood Tang Shen’s intention. Though thrilled, he suppressed his excitement and calmly said, “Little boss, it’s my great fortune to work for you. Four years ago, I never would have imagined that I could have such luck.”

“We’re already so familiar with each other, so there’s no need for formalities. From now on, Shopkeeper Lu, you’ll be the chief manager of the Tang family’s businesses. Every seven days, deliver the ledger to Tang Huang.”

Hearing her name mentioned unexpectedly, Tang Huang looked at Tang Shen in surprise. “Brother?”

Tang Shen raised an eyebrow and said, “Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? Did you really think I didn’t know about you secretly burning candles at night to tally the accounts?”

“Brother!”

“From now on, bring me the annual accounts at the end of each year for review.”

“Yes!”

The Tang family now had four major businesses:

The production of soap, scented soap, and essential oils in partnership with outsiders; Xixia Tower, which specializes in boxiagong; the ancient-style supermarket Baibao Pavilion; and Tang’s Logistics, run by Yao San, delivering goods for Baibao Pavilion across the north and south!

Leaving Baibao Pavilion, Tang Shen looked up at the vast night sky.

In the darkness, countless stars twinkled, and the bright moon shone.

For a moment, he seemed to see a broad avenue unfolding before many people. His role was to point the way for Tang Huang and Shopkeeper Lu, but the ultimate success of the Tang family’s businesses would rely not only on him but on everyone contributing behind the scenes.

But as for the future, that would come in its own time.

When Tang Shen returned home and finished washing up, he was about to go to bed when he suddenly remembered something and hurried to Tang Huang’s room. After knocking and entering, he was surprised to see Tang Huang still poring over the accounts.

Tang Huang said, “Today’s accounts haven’t been reconciled yet.”

Tang Shen picked up one of the account books and flipped through it. Although he had an eidetic memory and quickly absorbed its contents, he found the numbers dizzying. Tang Shen said, “Don’t you find this extremely tedious and boring?”

“How could I? This is making money! It’s fascinating!”

Tang Shen: “…”

It’s true that everyone has their own passions. No matter how much Tang Huang had changed over the years, her love for money had remained constant.

Tang Shen asked, “Have you had the items I mentioned a few days ago printed at the publishing house?”

Tang Huang paused, thought for a moment, and then realized what Tang Shen was referring to. “Brother, don’t worry. I’ve been keeping an eye on it, and everything’s going smoothly.”

He still wanted to remind his younger sister of a few more things, but seeing Tang Huang’s excited and joyful expression, Tang Shen suddenly felt that his sister had truly grown up. Perhaps as an older brother, it wasn’t necessary to hold on too tightly. He needed to learn to trust others and let go.

“Get some sleep early!”

“Okay.”

The next morning, in Chongzheng Hall.

Before dawn, the officials were waiting for court to begin in the Chongzheng Hall.

Tang Shen was a fourth-rank official, so he had to wait in the right wing of Chongzheng Hall. The hall was filled with chairs, but there were so many fourth-rank officials that many of them had no choice but to stand. Naturally, they were unaware that just on the other side of the wall, in the main room of Chongzheng Hall, the first and second-rank officials of the Song Dynasty were leisurely sipping tea while sitting on chairs made of yellow rosewood.

The tea on the table was the finest Mingqian Longjing, shipped from Jiangnan earlier this year.

Zhao Fu showed the utmost care for the powerful officials of the court, leaving no room for complaints.

Wang Zhen picked up his cup and used the lid to stir the fragrant steam before taking a gentle sip. Not far from him, the Minister of Rites, Meng Lang, chuckled softly and leaned in closer to Wang Zhen, saying, “Wang daren, did you know a new shop opened yesterday on Zhengyangmen Street?”

Wang Zhen raised his eyes, gave him a calm glance, and smiled faintly. “I didn’t expect that Meng daren, as the Minister of Rites, would be more concerned about the shops in Shengjing than I, the Minister of Revenue. Meng daren, working tirelessly for the country, even paying attention to the nation’s finances and taxation despite being the Minister of Rites, is truly a role model for us all, worthy of admiration.”

Meng Lang: “…”

The powerful officials of the court all had thick skins like seasoned actors, but even among them, there were varying levels of skill.

Meng Lang knew that when it came to a battle of wits, he couldn’t compete with the cunning Wang Zifeng. So, he cut straight to the point, “Yesterday, as I was being carried home in my sedan chair, I passed by this new shop. I noticed the signboard had three characters written on it. The handwriting was elegant, graceful, and exuded an aura of nobility. Such fine calligraphy is rare in this world, so I had to stop and take a closer look. Wang daren, can you guess what I discovered?”

Wang Zhen: “Oh? What?”

“It turned out to be your calligraphy, Wang daren!”

Wang Zhen, touched, said, “I never imagined that Meng daren cares so much about me, able to recognize my handwriting from just three characters.”

Meng Lang: “…Wang Zifeng, I was just joking. How are you so dull?”

Wang Zhen set down his cup and suddenly stood, straightening his official robes. “It’s time for court.”

The next moment, the chief eunuch of ceremonies entered the hall and announced, “Ministers, it is time for court.”

Meng Lang: “…”

Wang Zifeng was truly the most boring person alive!

After court, Tang Shen followed the group of officials out of the palace. Suddenly, he thought he heard someone calling his name. He turned around in a daze, only to see Wang Zhen standing not far away, smiling at him and saying, “Jing Ze, why don’t we walk together?”

Surrounded by a crowd of elderly men with white hair and wrinkled faces, Wang Zhen, dressed in a deep red official robe, looked like an immortal who had descended into the mortal world. The contrast was so striking that Tang Shen froze for a moment before hurrying over. By the time he came to his senses, he found himself walking side by side with Wang Zhen, heading towards Qinzheng Hall.

Wang Zhen’s voice was gentle: “What is exactly is Baibao Pavilion?”

Tang Shen was surprised. “Hasn’t Senior Brother been there?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“No. These past few days have been too busy with official duties.”

Tang Shen wanted to explain, but as he was about to speak, he felt it would be too troublesome. After thinking for a moment, he said, “How about after work today, I’ll take Senior Brother to see it, and then you’ll understand.”

Wang Zhen gave Tang Shen a meaningful look and said, “Then I’ll follow your lead.”

AN: Forty-three-year-old Minister Meng: What a crafty old fox, Wang Zifeng!

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Kaiping, 29th year, April 16th, conflict with the Horse, evil in the south. (TN: traditional Chinese astrological guidance often used in planning auspicious times or directions, especially in traditional Chinese practices like Feng Shui, calendar selection, and event planning.)

Auspicious for marriage, sacrifices, opening businesses, and acquiring wealth; inauspicious for moving into a house, cutting wood, and building beams.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

On the morning of this day, as the sun rose, the scene on Zhengyangmen Street was one of extraordinary excitement. Across the entire Shengjing, or even the entire Song Dynasty, Zhengyangmen Street was the busiest street. At this moment, four teams of lion dancers dressed in special costumes were performing celebratory dances in the middle of the street. What was usually a road wide enough to accommodate ten horse carriages side by side was now completely blocked by onlookers.

The sound of gongs, drums, suona horns, and enthusiastic applause and cheers echoed, deafeningly loud.

More and more people were drawn to the spectacle, gathering around to watch this grand performance. The extravagance of the display made many passersby almost mistake it for a festival.

Ten days earlier, there had been rumors that Xixia Tower had opened another shop on Zhengyangmen Street.

Ever since Xixia Tower started the trend, many restaurants specializing in boxiagong had sprung up in Shengjing. But without a doubt, Xixia Tower was the most popular, with guests filling its rooms daily. Anytime one went, they would need to queue for a seat.

Lining up at other restaurants for food was unthinkable. Even at Qianli Tower, the top restaurant in Shengjing, no guest was willing to wait a full half-hour just for a meal. But Xixia Tower was different. While waiting at Xixia Tower, customers were given seats at tea tables and could listen to storytelling. Over time, many customers came not just for the food but also for the storytelling.

Seeing Xixia Tower’s success, other restaurants followed suit, copying its approach. But no matter how they tried, none could match the appeal of Xixia Tower’s storytelling, and so, Xixia Tower’s status among the citizens of Shengjing grew even more solid.

People loved going to Xixia Tower to eat and listen to stories, and naturally, while listening, they would hear the staff mention that soon Xixia Tower would open another shop in Shengjing.

A curious bystander asked, “Is it another restaurant specializing in boxiagong?”

The staff purposely left everyone hanging, “How could it be boxiagong again? You’ll know soon enough. The shop opens on April 16th, don’t forget to come and support us!”

As word spread, soon half of Shengjing knew that on April 16th, a new shop would open on Zhengyangmen Street.

Watching the lion dance and suona performance, an old scholar remarked, “I think the owner behind Xixia Tower is really something. They only opened their first shop in Shengjing a few years ago, and now they’re opening another, and it’s so big! I’ve lived in Shengjing my whole life, and I’ve never seen such a large store. What could they be selling that requires such a huge space?”

“How would I know? I was enjoying the performance, but now you’ve got me hoping it ends soon so we can see what they’re selling!”

For most businesses, a lion dance is performed to attract customers. But in Tang Shen’s case, it was the opposite—people were more eager to see what the new store was selling than the performance itself!

After an hour of performances, amidst the crowd’s anticipation, Shopkeeper Lu of Xixia Tower and a dashing young lady dressed in men’s clothing stepped to the center of the lion dance formation. Two majestic “lions” swayed their heads like guardian deities, standing beside Shopkeeper Lu and the young lady.

The two exchanged a glance and then together reached out to unveil the new shop’s signboard.

“Baibao Pavilion!”

At three-quarters past noon, inside a shop on Zhengyangmen’s West Street, a drowsy shopkeeper yawned and absentmindedly fiddled with his abacus, balancing yesterday’s accounts.

Suddenly, a nimble figure stumbled into the store, gasping for breath, “Oh no, oh no! Shopkeeper! Xixia Tower just opened a shop on Zhengyangmen Street, and they’re going to steal our business!”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Xixia Tower sells boxiagong, they’re a restaurant. Even if they steal business, they’d steal from other restaurants, not from us, a general goods store.”

The employee anxiously replied, “Who said their new shop is a restaurant? They’ve opened a general goods store too!”

“What?!” The once lethargic shopkeeper instantly woke up, his eyes wide open and his mouth agape as if he could swallow an egg.

Fifteen minutes later, Shopkeeper Liu stormed to Baibao Pavilion with his employee, his face dark as thunder.

Shopkeeper Liu’s given name was Qi, and ever since his grandfather opened their general store, their family had held a steady footing on Zhengyangmen Street. By the time the store was passed down to Liu Qi, it was already in its third generation. Liu Qi had never imagined expanding his humble store—making a living was good enough. Although called a general store, they mostly sold spices like star anise and cinnamon, grains, and occasionally some furniture and metalwork.

Standing beneath the Baibao Pavilion signboard, Shopkeeper Liu carefully examined the three characters multiple times. Then, with pursed lips, he said, “Let’s go in and have a look.”

The two had barely stepped through the entrance of Baibao Pavilion when they froze in their tracks.

Shopkeeper Liu was dumbfounded, and his employee also stood agape.

After a long pause, Shopkeeper Liu finally exclaimed, “This, you call this a general store?”

His employee stammered, “I only heard about it from others, Shopkeeper. This—this is no ordinary general store, it’s enormous!”

The spacious, orderly store was lined with countless neatly arranged shelves. Hundreds of customers carried baskets, wandering the aisles, selecting items and placing them into their baskets.

As Shopkeeper Liu stood in shock, a voice broke him from his daze: “Respected customer, would you like a basket? Baibao Pavilion has just opened so you may not be familiar with how we operate. Let me explain: you take this basket, and then you can walk through the aisles and pick anything you need from the shelves. When you’re done, just head to the back to settle the bill.” After a pause, the employee added, “So, respected customer, would you like a basket?”

Shopkeeper Liu turned to see the Baibao Pavilion employee, a young man with a friendly smile that made people feel at ease.

“Well, since I’m here, I might as well see what the competition is up to,” Liu muttered.

“One basket, please.”

“Right away!”

Tossing the basket to his employee, Shopkeeper Liu began his inspection of Baibao Pavilion.

Baibao Pavilion spanned two floors, each floor taking up the space of three regular shops. They had even knocked through the back courtyards, creating a vast space that was filled with so many customers it seemed endless.

The shelves were skillfully arranged, leaving just enough space between them for three people to walk side by side. Signs hung above the aisles, marked with labels like “Farming Tools,” “Cosmetics,” “Grains.” If you wanted grains, you would find everything from red beans to black beans, millet to sorghum—all imaginable varieties lined the shelves.

As Shopkeeper Liu wandered, he was bombarded by gasps of amazement from the other Shengjing residents passing by.

His heart grew heavier as he meticulously inspected every shelf on the first floor, which took him almost an hour.

“Let’s head upstairs.”

His employee followed, and they ascended to the second floor.

The atmosphere upstairs was much quieter.

From a glance, Shopkeeper Liu noticed that the goods on the second floor were pricier than those on the first. For example, the scented soap usually only sold at Shengjing Autumn Hall could be found here. The first floor also sold clothing and fabrics, but upstairs they carried only the finest silks. The environment on the second floor was even more refined, catering to more affluent customers.

Shopkeeper Liu remained silent as he strolled deeper into the floor, carefully eyeing each item on the shelves.

Suddenly, something caught his eye. He froze, staring in disbelief at the object before him.

After a moment, one of the uniformed employees rushed over, smiling brightly. “Respected customer, did something catch your eye? If you need anything, just let me know and I’ll fetch it for you.”

Shopkeeper Liu’s eyes widened as he turned and exclaimed, “Are those the Golden Wisp sold only at Autumn Hall?!”

The employee smiled and said, “You have a sharp eye, respected customer. Indeed, it is the Golden Wisp.”

Shopkeeper Liu continued, “How can you use so much glassware just to showcase the Golden Wisp? Is your boss mad?!”

The employee stood frozen, unsure how to respond. At this point, Shopkeeper Lu approached and signaled the young man to step aside so he could attend to the customer. Shopkeeper Lu looked Liu Qi over, not recognizing him, and smiled, “Respected customer, I’m the shopkeeper of Baibao Pavilion. If my employee has been inadequate in serving you, please forgive us. Is there anything specific you’re looking for? I’ll have someone fetch it for you.”

In Baibao Pavilion, employees in red vests were stationed beside every pair of shelves. Their job was to both monitor for theft and provide speedy assistance to any customer. This was one of the ten guidelines that Tang Shen had discussed with Shopkeeper Lu before opening the shop.

Shopkeeper Liu’s face flushed red, still unable to believe his eyes. He turned again, carefully inspecting the bottles of Golden Wisp. Finally, when he confirmed that all the small bottles holding the Golden Wisp were indeed made of glass, he deflated.

“Baibao Pavilion really is wealthy, Shopkeeper Lu. Using so many glass bottles just to store essential oils… I’ve never heard of such a thing. Truly an eye-opener.”

With Baibao Pavilion this prosperous, how could his small general store possibly compete?

Sensing something amiss, Shopkeeper Lu gave Shopkeeper Liu a meaningful glance and said, “You might not know this, but indeed, these are glass exclusive to Baibao Pavilion. We will be introducing many glass products in the future. If you’re interested, feel free to come by anytime. By the way, there’s another glass item in the store—would you like to take a look?”

Shopkeeper Liu had long lost his temper. He nodded and followed Shopkeeper Lu to a shelf in the center of the second floor.

The shelf was surrounded by many customers, mostly the wives and daughters of wealthy families from Shengjing. Each of them had a pleased expression on their face, while the maids beside them spoke on their behalf.

“How many mirrors does Baibao Pavilion have in stock?”

Employee: “Rest assured, we have plenty of mirrors here.”

A wealthy madam whispered to her maid, who then said, “The Luo family in the west of the city wants twenty mirrors.”

“The Vice Minister’s residence wants fifteen.”

“The Duke of Dingguo’s residence wants thirty!”

Listening to these requests, Shopkeeper Lu smiled in satisfaction. He turned to Shopkeeper Liu and asked, “Respected customer, would you like to buy a mirror as well?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

In the tall and spacious room, Shopkeeper Liu stared blankly at the smooth and beautiful mirror that was surrounded by the crowd. In the perfectly flat surface, he saw a complete reflection of his dazed expression. His blue cloth hat, his black robe, even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were all clearly visible.

Baibao Pavilion…(Hundred Treasure Pavilion)

This name was truly well-deserved.

How was anyone supposed to survive against them?!

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