Although Su Wenyun had never intentionally showcased it, his noble family background naturally imbued him with an inherent elegance, just like Wang Zhen. Every gesture carried a distinct refinement. Even earlier, as he watered the plants with his face concealed by burlap, Tang Shen could still sense an unusual air about him when passing by.
Why would Su Wenyun, accustomed to wearing gold and jade, suddenly don such attire and water plants in front of Tang Shen’s room?
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Tang Shen understood clearly but maintained an indifferent expression. He said calmly, “It was just a casual question.”
Su Wenyun looked Tang Shen up and down, a smirk playing on his lips. “I was also casually passing by.”
Tang Shen: “…”
Su Wenyun asked, “Does Tang daren have any other questions?”
“None,” Tang Shen replied.
With a light laugh, Su Wenyun turned and left.
Tang Shen watched his retreating figure disappear through a small courtyard gate. After a long moment, he shook his head, finding the situation both amusing and exasperating. Su Wenyun truly had too much time on his hands. He had deliberately waited here just to observe who Tang Shen would meet upon arriving in Youzhou.
Currently, Youzhou City was under the influence of two forces: the Youzhou Military Camp and the Silver Pull Division.
The Youzhou Military Camp belonged to the Grand Marshal of the Empire, essentially making it half under Li Jingde’s jurisdiction. Based on the tension between Li Jingde and Su Wenyun back in Shengjing, the two were clearly not on good terms. Meanwhile, the Silver Pull Division was Wang Zhen’s domain, and Su Wenyun’s relationship with Wang Zhen wasn’t much better.
Thus, while Su Wenyun had arrived in Youzhou as early as February, he had accomplished little since then.
Su Wenyun’s competence was unquestionable, but his lack of manpower left him isolated and ineffective—a major hurdle in Youzhou.
Back in his room, Tang Shen lit an oil lamp, the flickering flame casting shadows on the walls. He let out a long sigh.
Only now did Tang Shen fully grasp Zhao Fu’s intentions in sending him to Youzhou. It wasn’t just to carry out his mission but also to assist Su Wenyun!
The proposal to use the Silver Pull Division as a means to plant spies in Liao territory had been Tang Shen’s idea. However, he was also aware that Su Wenyun’s experience likely surpassed his own when it came to executing such plans. Yet, Su Wenyun lacked sufficient support in Youzhou. Therefore, Zhao Fu had sent Tang Shen to collaborate with him.
Tang Shen, a member of Wang Zhen’s faction, could monitor Su Wenyun. Conversely, Su Wenyun was tasked with monitoring Tang Shen.
This created a delicate balance between the two.
Zhao Fu’s mind was like a deep, dark abyss, within which lay a seemingly dormant dragon. Coiled within the depths, it watched the world above with cold, unyielding eyes.
In Shengjing, within a secluded courtyard on the outskirts of the city, a bamboo grove concealed a seemingly ordinary estate. Yet upon entering, one would find an exquisite scene: jagged rock formations, flowing water, and a distinctly Jiangnan-style garden. Winding corridors led to a small pavilion standing serenely in the center of a pond.
Wang Zhen, dressed in a white brocade robe, rolled up his sleeves slightly. With practiced elegance, he picked up a teapot and poured tea in a manner so fluid and graceful it was a delight to watch. He pushed a cup of tea across the table toward the man sitting opposite him. The man picked up the cup with both hands and took a sip.
“Exquisite,” said the man, who was none other than the Right Prime Minister, Wang Quan.
Wang Zhen smiled. “You flatter me, Uncle.”
Wang Quan remarked, “It’s been half a year since I last visited your ‘Liuqi Courtyard.’ What brings you here today?”
Wang Zhen replied, “I recently had a Taihu rock transported from Gusu.”
“Oh? Where is it?”
Wang Zhen pointed to a large, slanted rock in the middle of the pond.
Standing by the pavilion’s edge, Wang Quan examined it. “Its shape is peculiar, its color unique, and its texture excellent—a truly fine specimen of pierced rock. Has it been named?”
“Not yet,” Wang Zhen said.
“Shall I name it for you?” Wang Quan asked with a smile.
Wang Quan was only making a casual offer. Twelve years ago, Wang Zhen achieved first place in the imperial examinations and officially began his career as an official. He didn’t stay long in the Zhuangyuan Residence granted by the emperor for the top scholar before moving into a private residence prepared by the prestigious Wang clan of Langya in Shengjing—later known as the Minister Residence.
The Wang family of Langya, with its deep roots and resources, provided Wang Zhen with endless support. However, once Wang Zhen was promoted to a third-rank official, the family’s assistance became less crucial. Eight years ago, Wang Zhen purchased this Liuqi Courtyard entirely on his own.
Descendants of the Wang family from Langya possess a unique attachment and sense of ownership toward their personal belongings.
Though small, Liuqi Courtyard was designed with meticulous care. Creating a stunning Jiangnan-style garden in a prime location like Shengjing required significant expense and effort from Wang Zhen. However, it remained his private domain. Wang Quan rarely set foot there, and without an invitation, he would never visit.
Yet even Wang Quan was surprised when Wang Zhen declined without hesitation. “Thank you, Uncle, but someone else will be naming it.”
“Who might that be?” Wang Quan asked, intrigued.
“They have yet to return to Shengjing,” Wang Zhen replied.
For a moment, Wang Quan was taken aback before a look of understanding crossed his face. He shook his head, feeling regret for his remarkable nephew but he would not say anything.
Wang Quan changed the subject. “Tang Shen, Tang Jingze seems to have arrived in Youzhou.”
“Yes,” Wang Zhen confirmed.
After a pause, Wang Quan sighed. “Zi Feng, extending your reach too far may not always be wise. A lifetime of mutual understanding and support does not mean absolute control. You navigate politics and relationships with such finesse—how could you not understand this?”
For a rare moment, a hint of surprise flickered across Wang Zhen’s otherwise elegant and composed features. Then, he smiled and said, “You’re right, Uncle.”
After Wang Quan left, Wang Zhen sat alone in the courtyard, his eyes fixed on a Taihu rock in the pond.
After a long while, he chuckled mockingly, “You speak as if it’s so simple. Second Uncle, oh Second Uncle, you haven’t even managed your own relationship woes properly!”
Meanwhile, just as Wang Quan returned to the Right Prime Minister’s residence, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine. Frowning, the influential court minister thought to himself, Could it be that my little nephew Wang Zifeng is badmouthing me behind my back?
It must be said that high-ranking officials like him possessed an intuition far sharper than ordinary people.
Naturally, Tang Shen had no knowledge of what was happening in Shengjing. Nor did he know that without doing anything, he had inadvertently caused Wang Zifeng to be reprimanded by Wang Quan and lectured on how to manage family relations. Although it was widely known in Shengjing that Wang Quan’s own marriage was far from harmonious, that never stopped him from acting as a self-proclaimed expert on family matters.
Of course, if Tang Shen had known, he probably wouldn’t have cared. After all, when had he and his senior brother ever been in a family-like relationship? They were clearly just fellow senior and junior brothers.
The next morning, Lin Xu, the overseer of the Silver Pull Division, came to meet Tang Shen again. This time, he was joined by Lu Shen and his men, and the two groups clashed at the posthouse. Tang Shen stepped out of his room to witness the tense standoff and immediately felt a headache coming on.
“Let’s go. We’re visiting the Silver Pull Division today,” Tang Shen said.
“Yes, daren. Please allow me to lead the way,” Lin Xu replied.
As they walked, Tang Shen casually remarked, “Right Vice Minister Su Wenyun of the Ministry of Works has been in Youzhou for a month now. I’ve known him since our time in Shengjing. Coincidentally, we were sent here together, though our assignments differ. I can’t help but wonder—what has Su daren been doing in Youzhou?”
Wang Zhen and Su Wenyun were by no means allies. Lin Xu didn’t take Su Wenyun seriously either and directly revealed what Su Wenyun had been doing these past few days.
Like Tang Shen, Su Wenyun had come to Youzhou on business, and Zhao Fu had also assigned him a team. However, unlike Tang Shen, he didn’t have the support of the Silver Pull Divison and didn’t get along well with Li Jingde. As a result, despite working for a month, his progress had been slow, and he had achieved little.
Tang Shen listened thoughtfully, nodding occasionally.
Upon arriving at the Silver Pull Division, Tang Shen, as the emperor’s envoy, was normally expected to face resistance. However, under Lin Xu’s guidance, he easily obtained the past year’s account books and began reviewing them.
The accounts were impeccably detailed, with every expense and income meticulously recorded. It was either a sign of genuine transparency or the work of a master accountant.
As the Silver Pull Division was under Wang Zhen’s jurisdiction, Tang Shen trusted that his senior brother’s character ensured the records were genuine.
Wang Zifeng was not entirely an incorruptible official. In fact, Tang Shen suspected that his senior brother might have engaged in bribery or falsified documents in the past. However, as the Minister of Revenue, Wang Zifeng had ample opportunities to amass wealth elsewhere. It was unlikely he would tamper with matters concerning the Silver Pull Division, a crucial institution tied to the prosperity of the Song Dynasty for decades, even centuries, to come.
After reviewing the account books, Lin Xu accompanied Tang Shen to meet with several officials of the Silver Pull Division.
That evening, the Silver Pull Division hosted a banquet in honor of Tang Shen’s arrival. Amid the clinking of cups and flowing wine, Tang Shen returned to the posthouse, slightly inebriated. Since his arrival in Youzhou, Lu Shen’s assignment had shifted from monitoring the Silver Pull Division to ensuring Tang Shen’s safety and awaiting his orders.
So naturally, when Tang Shen became drunk, General Lu dispatched men to escort him back to the posthouse.
Tang Shen, his cheeks flushed, lay on the bed in a drunken stupor. Despite his intoxication, his refined features and demeanor remained intact, far from resembling a disheveled drunkard.
Yet Lu Shen, after throwing him onto the bed, grumbled lightly under his breath and sneered, “inept official!” before leaving with his men.
Soon, the posthouse fell silent once more.
The night deepened, and a startled finch fluttered outside the window.
In the pitch-dark bedroom, Tang Shen suddenly opened his eyes. He coughed softly, his throat parched. Rising, he poured himself a cup of tea. Although his ears were still red and his movements a bit unsteady, his gaze was sharp and sober—nothing like the drunken man from earlier.
After sipping tea to clear his head, Tang Shen changed into dark clothing and quickly slipped out of his room.
Moving quietly, he navigated through several small courtyards, avoiding patrolling guards, until he reached a particular room. The room was unlit, seemingly unoccupied, or its occupant might have already gone to bed. Yet Tang Shen gently knocked on the door. Before long, the door opened.
In the moonlight, Su Wenyun stood there, looking Tang Shen up and down. He sniffed lightly and smirked. “Tang daren has been drinking?”
Tang Shen replied coldly, “This lower official, Tang Shen, greets Su daren. Last night, you went out of your way to seek me and subtly hinted at your residence. Thus, I avoided prying eyes today and came to find you.”
Su Wenyun ceased his mocking tone and stepped aside. “I’ve had the nearby area cleared of people. Come in, and we’ll talk.”
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Tang Shen entered without hesitation.
Once the door was shut, their expressions turned grave.
By day, Su Wenyun had been derided by Lin Xu as someone who “idles away his time.” But now, he spoke with unwavering resolve:
“Using the Silver Pull Division as a gateway—enter Liao territory as merchants!”
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