Once off the dock, Tang juren immediately dressed Tang Shen in a brand new embroidered robe. He wore a carved crown on his head, jade embedded boots on his feet, a gemstone belt around his waist, and even held an antique fan from the previous dynasty. Not even when Tang Shen was appointed as the tanhua in Zichen Hall by the emperor did he dress so grandly!

The Tang clan, both those familiar and unfamiliar to Tang Shen, showered him with various gifts.

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When the large procession finally arrived at the Tang ancestral shrine, Feng Bi was already holding a heap of ornate boxes.

Tang Shen followed Tang juren and the Tang clan’s patriarch into the ancestral hall. Both sides were lined with grand armchairs, filled with uncles and elders from the Tang clan. Tang juren first knelt and said, “Before our Tang ancestors, we announce that Tang Shen of the second branch of the Tang family has excelled in the imperial exam as the third-ranked scholar, bringing honor to our clan. As his uncle, I am deeply gratified. With this excellent son, our Tang clan is sure to prosper for a hundred years!”

The patriarch of the Tang clan stood before the ancestral tablets, opened the family genealogy, and began reading the clan rules after stopping at Tang Shen’s name.

In this era, passing the imperial exam was a matter of great honor for one’s family. If someone became the top scorer, the very next day, sixteen bailiffs would carry a plaque declaring the top scholar’s return as they accompanied the new top scholar back to his hometown, a process called “Returning Home by Imperial Decree.” Yao Shan, the top scorer from Tang Shen’s same cohort, had already done this, though his family was in Shengjing, so it was a local affair, causing little delay.

Tang Shen, on the other hand, had become the third-ranked scholar the previous year, and it had been a full year and a half since he had last returned to Gusu. The Tang clan had waited anxiously every day, nearly to the point of going to Shengjing to fetch him in person to ask if he still intended to come home.

Now that Tang Shen had finally returned, how could the Tang clan treat this matter lightly?

Tang juren, brimming with excitement, said, “Shen’er, our Tang clan has only ever produced one third-ranked scholar, let alone any other successful imperial exam candidates. You are the pride of the Tang clan. As your uncle, I must thank you!”

Tang Shen replied, “We are one family. There’s no need for such words.”

Tang juren’s eyes reddened with joy, and though he wanted to say more, he hesitated. In the presence of the newly appointed tanhua, now a fourth-rank official, he felt too timid to continue.

That evening, the Tang family hosted a three-day-long banquet.

Everyone in Gusu came to the Tang household to offer congratulations, not for the food, but to bask in the joy and good fortune of the third-ranked scholar.

Gusu had always been a land of talented people, a blessed place with a long history of prosperity. However, even in such a place, only five individuals had ever passed the imperial exam during the Kaiping era, and only one had ranked second.

After the three days of celebration, Tang Shen finally had time to rest. But on the fourth day, just after the banquet ended, the governor of Gusu paid him a visit.

The newly appointed governor of Gusu was surnamed Jia and had passed the imperial exam in the third year of Kaiping. Without any powerful backing in the capital, Governor Jia had spent over twenty years serving as a county magistrate and governor in remote regions after passing the exam. It wasn’t until he was over fifty that Chen xianggong appointed him to Gusu, where he could now enjoy a peaceful retirement in this prosperous land.

Governor Jia was a fourth-rank official, as was Tang Shen. But his rank paled in comparison to Tang Shen’s.

A local official couldn’t compare to a capital official, and even an ordinary capital official couldn’t compare to an official of Qinzheng Hall.

When Governor Jia personally came to visit, Tang Shen didn’t find it odd. He received him with courtesy and hosted a banquet for him in the flower hall. After several rounds of wine, Governor Jia cautiously congratulated Tang Shen and inquired about recent events in Shengjing. Then, after a while, he said, “Tang daren, while visiting your esteemed residence today, I actually brought someone with me.”

Tang Shen asked, “Oh, and who might that be?”

Governor Jia ordered a bailiff to fetch an elderly man from the prefectural office. When Tang Shen saw him, he was momentarily stunned. After scrutinizing the man carefully, he suddenly exclaimed, “Village Head Uncle?!”

The village head of Tang Family Village stood in the hall, visibly nervous.

News of Tang Shen’s return to Gusu had spread far and wide, and the Tang family had hosted three full days of banquets in his honor. The villagers of Tang Family Village had also heard the news and had urged the village head to make the journey to the city. They weren’t looking to curry favor with Tang Shen, but rather to request a calligraphy piece from him.

Tang Shen said, “Village Head Uncle, it’s been five years, and I almost didn’t recognize you.”

With that, Tang Shen stood up, walked forward, and helped the village head sit down.

The village head protested, “This is inappropriate!”

At the table sat the governor of Gusu and Tang Shen, the third-ranked scholar—how could he possibly dare sit? However, just as he was about to stand, a slender yet strong hand gently pressed down on his shoulder, preventing him from rising. When the village head turned around, he saw Tang Shen smiling at him.

Though Tang Shen smiled warmly, his undeniable official authority lent him an air of gravity that made it impossible to refuse.

Just as Tang Shen had nearly failed to recognize the village head, the village head had also struggled to recognize Tang Shen.

No one could have predicted that, after five years, the boy who used to sell fruit juice at the village entrance would transform into the young man standing before them now!

The village head accepted the gesture and sat down, and Tang Shen instructed Feng Bi to bring out an extra set of chopsticks and bowl.

After some small talk, Tang Shen learned of the village head’s request and couldn’t help but laugh, “That joke Ah Huang made all those years ago—who would’ve thought everyone took it seriously? There’s really no need to change the village name to Tang Family Village, but since it’s already been done, so be it. You’ve come all this way to ask me to write the characters ‘Tang Family Village,’ correct?”

The village head nodded.

Tang Shen thought for a moment and then asked Feng Bi to prepare ink, paper, and brush. He swiftly penned the three large characters for “Tang Family Village.”

As soon as he finished, Governor Jia exclaimed, “Magnificent! What superb calligraphy! Such boldness, like the strength of pine, with strokes flowing like dragons and serpents. Truly majestic!”

Tang Shen touched his ear, thinking, that’s a bit much. Flattery only works if it’s believable, you know.

Governor Jia, eager to flatter Tang Shen, and the village head, unable to discern good calligraphy from bad, were both convinced that Tang Shen’s writing was otherworldly. The village head thought, the handwriting of the tanhua truly is different from ordinary scholars. After we carve this into the stone tablet at the village entrance, I’ll secretly keep the original as a family heirloom and pass it down to my son!

With the village head’s visit, Tang Huang also came out from the back courtyard to greet him and reminisce.

After four busy days, on the fifth, Tang Shen finally had some time to truly rest.

But he had barely rested for two days when the New Year arrived.

On New Year’s Eve, Tang Shen and his sister went to Tang juren’s house to celebrate, spending the holiday together. Both Tang juren and Tang Yun, the eldest son of the Tang family, felt too intimidated to speak to Tang Shen as they had before. Only Madam Tang treated him as she always had. She placed a piece of fish on Tang Shen and Tang Huang’s plates, saying, “May you have abundance every year.”

The Tang family had many relatives in Gusu, but Tang Shen didn’t need to visit them personally. On the second day of the New Year, they all came to the Tang household to offer their greetings.

After sending off wave after wave of visitors, Tang Shen returned to his study and began writing.

While still in Shengjing, Tang Huang had begged her brother to write her a copybook. However, Tang Shen had been too busy with his duties at the Qinzheng Hall and his glass-making experiments to have time. Now that he had completed his glasswork and was back home on leave, he finally had time to write a proper copybook for his sister to practice her calligraphy.

On a piece of rice paper, Tang Shen neatly wrote, “The sky was black and the earth was yellow, The universe was vast and a dark whole. The sun rises and sets and the moon is regularly round, Stars spread high above without a toll.…”

After finishing a full copy of the “Thousand Character Classic,” Tang Shen stared at the characters for a long time. He whispered, “Majestic, bold as pine, strokes like dragons and serpents? In truth, it’s merely an imitation of Wang Zifeng’s form, without capturing his essence.”

Tang Shen’s early calligraphy lessons were under Mr. Liang’s guidance, giving him his first insight into the art. At that time, his style was not yet set, and Wang Zifeng gave him a copybook by Zhong Taisheng, which taught him how to master the horizontal strokes, hooks, and dots. When he truly learned to express the essence of a character, he studied Wang Zifeng’s script.

In this world, there are students who surpass their masters, but Tang Shen’s talent in calligraphy could not match that of Wang Zhen. In fact, looking at the entire Song Dynasty, few could compare to Wang Zifeng of Langya! This man was like a prodigy born once in a millennium, a master of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Outside the courtyard wall, the neighbors began setting off firecrackers. Listening to the crackling sounds, Tang Shen suddenly found himself missing Wang Zhen. What could Wang Zhen be doing now?

Tang Shen’s thoughts drifted, and after a while, he suddenly snapped out of it, wondering why he was inexplicably missing Wang Zifeng. Shaking his head to dispel such odd thoughts, he returned inside to sleep.

The court’s spring holiday lasted more than twenty days, ending only on the 18th day of the first month. Tang Shen planned to return to Shengjing on the 10th.

On the 6th, he went to dine at Tang juren‘s house. Madam Tang discreetly kept him behind and sent Tang juren’s concubine-born daughter and Tang Huang to play in another courtyard, effectively sending Tang Huang away. Tang Shen was confused as he sipped his Biluochun tea, wondering if there was trouble at the Zhenbao Pavilion that Madam Tang wanted to discuss privately.

At that moment, Madam Tang said, “Shen’er, you’re eighteen this year. Have you taken a liking to any young lady?”

Tang Shen: “…”

He nearly spat out the hot tea. Fortunately, after three years in Shengjing, spending time around people like Wang Zifeng, that cunning old fox, and Emperor Zhao Fu, who was as dangerous as a tiger, Tang Shen had developed strong mental fortitude.

Steadying himself, he replied, “Eldest Aunt, I haven’t considered such matters. I am still young and have not yet come of age, so there is no rush for marriage.”

Madam Tang smiled and said, “Your eldest cousin had already been engaged at your age and just got married earlier this year. Since your parents are no longer here to handle such matters, it’s my duty to take care of it for you. But you’re right; you’re not like that rascal Tang Yun. It’s not easy to hold office in the capital, so it’s fine to delay it for a few more years. But Shen’er, what about Tang Huang’s marriage? Do you have any thoughts?”

Tang Shen frowned slightly, setting down his tea cup, and replied seriously, “I truly haven’t thought about it.”

Madam Tang said, “Huang’er is already fourteen this year, and she will come of age next year. It’s time for her to marry. If you’re okay with letting me handle it, I’ve already looked into some good suitors from Gusu and Jinling for her. But if you have someone in mind for her in Shengjing, I’ll follow your lead.”

Tang Shen said, “There’s no rush. I’ll ask Tang Huang about it first.”

Madam Tang was taken aback. 

The marriage of a young lady was usually decided by her parents, but recalling that Tang Shen loved his sister dearly, she relented and said, “Alright, I’ll leave it to you. But Shen’er, I’ve also looked into some eligible ladies from Gusu and Jinling for you. If you have time, come by in the next couple of days, and I’ll tell you more.”

Tang Shen: “…”

Tang daren, a man who not only navigated the treacherous political waters of the imperial court with tact and skill, but also remained unflustered in the face of suspicion from the emperor. But now, confronted with Madam Tang’s well-intentioned efforts to arrange a marriage for him—he fled. The next day, he found an excuse and went to Jinling.

Tang Shen, accompanied by his page boy, fled to Jinling in haste.

After serving Tang Shen for three years, the Feng Bi had come to understand his master’s thoughts well, knowing full well that this trip to Jinling was to avoid matchmaking. However, since they were already here, Tang Shen thought for a moment and said, “Let us go to Jinxiu Pavilion.”

The master and servant arrived at Jinxiu Pavilion, where they found the shop bustling with people buying soap. After a while, Tang Shen noticed a piece of calligraphy hanging in the shop. His eyes widened, staring at the words in disbelief.

Feng Bi saw his master’s reaction and read aloud, “‘Mist envelops the cold water, and moonlight shrouds the sand.’ Gongzi, is something wrong with this calligraphy?”

Tang Shen, half-amused, half-exasperated, said, “I never imagined that my connection with my senior brother would begin with this!”

“Is it the little boss Tang from Gusu?”

Tang Shen turned around to see the shopkeeper of Jinxiu Pavilion looking at them cautiously. When Tang Shen faced him, the shopkeeper was overjoyed, bowing in respect, and said, “It really is you, little boss Tang. Oh no, I should now call you Tang daren. It’s been four years since we last met in Jinling. How fortunate I am to see you again!”

Tang Shen replied, “It’s been four years. How have you been, Shopkeeper Fang?”

“I’m honored you remember my name,” Shopkeeper Fang said excitedly. “I’ve been well. The soap and Golden Wisp products at Jinxiu Pavilion have been selling wonderfully. I believe Accountant Lin has already informed you of this. I noticed you were looking at that calligraphy earlier. It was personally inscribed by Wang Zhen, the eldest gongzi of the Wang family of Langya. I hear that Wang daren is your senior brother. Have you come to Jinling to visit him?”

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Tang Shen was stunned, “Senior Brother Zi Feng is in Jinling?”

“Indeed, Wang daren returned to Jinling for the New Year this year!”

Half an hour later, Tang Shen stood in front of the grand and imposing gates of the Wang family mansion in Wuyi Lane, wearing a hesitant expression.

…So why exactly was he standing here?

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Lingzi stone, also known as dolomite, is primarily composed of calcium magnesium carbonate, a common type of mineral.  

In Tang Shen’s memory, dolomite was abundant in the modern world, not at all rare. But in this era, dolomite is not as common. The first reason is that no one has any use for this mineral. In this time period, minerals are used mainly for iron smelting, ceramics, or as pigments. Dolomite cannot be used to smelt iron, nor can it be used for ceramics, and using it as a pigment is even more unrealistic.  

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Without a market, there’s no demand.  

The second reason is the lack of high-purity dolomite veins.  

With the production technology of this era, the purity of dolomite needed to produce glass is extremely high. Even if the purity is sufficient, it’s still difficult to produce completely transparent glass. 

Yes, Tang Shen intended to make glass.  

Glass, to be precise, is not a modern invention. As early as 3000 BCE, the Egyptians had glassware. By the 5th century BCE, the Romans invented glass blowing techniques, using clay pipes to blow glass utensils. This method was used for over a thousand years, and even in modern times, craftsmen still used it to make glass art.  

However, neither in historical China nor in the Song Dynasty, where Tang Shen currently resides, were glass-making techniques as advanced as in the West. 

There was glass in the Song Dynasty, called “ceramic glaze.” It was made from an extremely expensive material called “glazed stone” and was exquisite and dazzling. Each ceramic glaze cup was incredibly valuable, used only by royalty. Most glazed stone was colored, so the glassware in the palace was primarily colorful, with very little clear glass.  

In truth, making glass isn’t that difficult.  

Tang Shen thought for a moment and asked, “What about feldspar and sandstone?”  

Shopkeeper Lu replied, “Those are easy to find. There’s a suitable mine in Northern Zhili.”  

Tang Shen said, “Good, in a few days, Shopkeeper Lu, have a cart of high-purity dolomite shipped back from the northeast.”  

“Understood!” 

Shopkeeper Lu didn’t understand what Tang Shen was planning to do but didn’t bother trying to figure it out. After all, the little boss wouldn’t do anything wrong—it was just a few cartloads of stone. Some people like to play with jade, and Tang Shen likes to play with rocks—what a great hobby! These useless rocks won’t ruin them financially in any case.  

Not long after, Shopkeeper Lu transported several cartloads of dolomite, feldspar, and sandstone to Shengjing. Tang Shen headed straight to the Tang Soap Workshop outside the city after finishing his work at the government office, diving into researching glass-making techniques.  

Making glass wasn’t hard; the main materials were dolomite, feldspar, sandstone, and sodium hydroxide.  

Tang Shen had already made sodium hydroxide while making soap. Now familiar with the process, he quickly produced a pot of sodium hydroxide and carefully stored it in a clay jar. Feldspar and sandstone were rich in silica, and by using sodium hydroxide to oxidize dolomite and then undergoing a chemical reaction to produce silicate, crude glass could be made.  

But though it sounded simple, it was much harder in practice!  

In his past life, Tang Shen studied materials, and in a lab, you’d never run out of raw materials, nor would you use such crude minerals to make glass.  

Tang Shen enlisted several craftsmen to grind the stones into powder, which took half a day. Due to the insufficient purity of the raw materials, he had to experiment while adjusting the proportions based on the materials’ purity.  

It was the twelfth lunar month, and the new year was approaching.  

Shengjing welcomed its first snowfall of the year. The thick snow covered the streets, and people and carts left tracks and wheel marks, flattening the snow. With the New Year approaching, every household hung lanterns and decorations. On the 12th of twelfth lunar month, the government office took a break, which would last until after the Lantern Festival. 

Tang Shen returned from the office, brushing off the snow from his shoulders. Aunt Yao brought a steaming bowl of chicken soup, and Tang Shen felt warm as soon as he drank it. Looking around, he asked, “Where’s Tang Huang?”  

Aunt Yao smiled, “Ah Huang went to buy New Year’s goods with San’er.”  

Tang Shen nodded.  

In the evening, Tang Huang and Yao San returned from outside.  

The Tanhua Residence was a large three-courtyard house, with two additional two-courtyard wings on either side. With such a big house, Tang Shen had originally intended to buy some servants and maids for cleaning, but Aunt Yao firmly opposed it.  

“I can handle it myself. I have nothing else to do at home, so cleaning is something to do.”  

Tang Shen couldn’t argue with her, so he didn’t buy any servants. Aunt Yao and the pages boy Feng Bi handled all the household chores in the Tanhua Residence.  

When Tang Shen saw Tang Huang return, he deliberately put on a stern face. “Didn’t I tell you to wait at home today? We’re going to Xixia Tower for dinner tonight.”  

Tang Huang said, “You said we’re going at night, dear brother, and it’s not nighttime yet!”  

Tang Shen shook his head helplessly. “Go change your clothes.” After a while, he called out again, “Wear that fox fur coat you brought from Gusu.”  

Tang Huang paused for a moment, then nodded and obediently went to change.  

In winter, the sky darkened quickly. By the time it was barely past 3 pm, the sun had already set, and the night sky had fallen. Under the starry sky, the Tang siblings made their way to Xixia Tower. When Shopkeeper Lu saw that the little boss had arrived, he immediately led them to a private room on the second floor, away from the street. As soon as they entered the room, Tang Shen felt a wave of warmth.  

In the simple yet elegant room, a charcoal brazier was burning brightly.  

The finest smokeless silver silk charcoal was used, with sandalwood burning nearby. The rising white smoke was both refreshing and calming.  

The room was so warm that Tang Shen and Tang Huang removed their cloaks and hung them up. Tang Shen opened the window, and the moonlight illuminated the room, reflecting the snowy streets of Shengjing. The snow and the moonlight complemented each other beautifully.  

Tang Huang nervously asked, “Brother, who are we meeting for such a grand dinner tonight?”  

Tang Shen glanced at her, “Guess who.”  

Tang Huang thought for a moment, “Could it be your teacher?”  

“And my senior brother.”  

Half an hour later, Fu Wei and Wang Zhen arrived at Xixia Tower.  

Fu Wei arrived first. Upon entering, his attention was immediately drawn to a painting hanging on the wall. His eyes lit up as he approached to take a closer look. After examining it carefully, he turned to Tang Shen and asked, “A painting by Wu Daozi?”  

Tang Shen smiled, “Indeed, it’s the work of the Saint of Painting.”  

“This is a treasure. Although it’s not one of Wu Daozi’s famous works, it must’ve cost you a lot of silver.” Fu Wei commented as he admired the painting, “It’s beautifully done, definitely better than anything I could produce.”  

When Wang Zhen entered, he too noticed the painting on the wall. After a meaningful glance, he turned his gaze to the young lady standing beside Tang Shen, who seemed somewhat anxious and nervous.  

In truth, Tang Shen and Tang Huang didn’t resemble each other much.  

Tang Shen was tall and slender, with a refined and handsome appearance. He had bright, clear eyes that naturally curved when he smiled, resembling crescent moons. When he wasn’t smiling, his features took on a more youthful, charming look—like a boy of nature and simplicity. After all, at 17, he was still in his youth. 

In contrast, Tang Huang had a more vigorous presence. It wasn’t that she looked masculine, but compared to her brother’s delicate features, her face was more sharply defined, with bright, piercing eyes. Even though she seemed a bit fearful while looking at Wang Zhen, there was an unshakable determination in her gaze.  

A stubborn and resilient young lady, Wang Zhen concluded. He turned to Tang Shen and softly asked, “Your sister?”  

Tang Shen introduced them, “Yes, this is my sister, Tang Huang.” 

After the introductions, the four sat around the table and began enjoying their meal of boxiagong.  

Before they knew it, more snow had begun to fall outside. The vast snowfall paired with the steaming hot pot created a scene of utmost comfort.  

After the meal, Tang Shen signaled to Shopkeeper Lu, who promptly removed the painting of Wu Daozi from the wall and carefully wrapped it in silk. Tang Shen handed the painting to Fu Wei.  

Since it was a painting by Wu Daozi, even Fu Wei was surprised: “Jing Ze, you’re giving this to me?”  

Tang Shen replied, “It was meant for you, Sir. I heard about this painting being sold in Gusu, and I bought it for you because I know how much you love painting. Sir, please accept it. Since I arrived in Shengjing three years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish anything without your guidance and support. I will never forget what you’ve done for me!”  

Even someone as thick-skinned as Fu Wei blushed and thought: Did I really?

He laughed heartily, “Then I shall accept it.”

After they had eaten and drunk to their fill, Tang Huang followed Shopkeeper Lu to check the daily earnings of Xixia Tower. Fu Wei, delighted with the painting he received, was so overjoyed that he took it back home immediately, saying he wanted to appreciate it properly. In the private room, only Tang Shen and Wang Zhen remained.

Wang Zhen gently skimmed off the layer of foam from his tea and took a light sip of the Biluochun tea.

The window was open, and the room was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood. Under the moonlight, Wang Zifeng, dressed in white, quietly sipped tea while gazing at the moon. It was hard to tell whether the moonlight was more brilliant, or the person under the moonlight had a more distinguished aura.

Tang Shen found himself staring in a daze for a moment. When he snapped out of it, he quickly took out a small embroidered box from his sleeve and handed it to Wang Zhen.

Wang Zhen accepted the box with a smile, asking, “Is this a bribe?”

Tang Shen paused.

Wang Zhen’s remark was not without basis.

Fu Wei was the Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy and had no direct authority over Tang Shen, so there was no issue with Tang giving him gifts. However, Wang Zhen was the Minister of Revenue and had full jurisdiction over Tang Shen, who worked in the Secretariat. On top of that, they both served in Qinzheng Hall.

Tang Shen sighed helplessly, “Senior Brother, are you teasing me again? Whether it is or isn’t, don’t you already know?”

Wang Zhen replied, “Little Junior Brother has grown bolder recently.”

“In what way am I being bold?”

Wang Zhen mimicked Tang Shen’s tone, “In what way are you being bold? You should know yourself.”

The two shared a laugh.

When Wang Zhen opened the box and saw what was inside, even though he was prepared, he was still momentarily stunned.

Inside the delicate little embroidered box was a small glass bottle, no larger than a palm.

It was a strange glass bottle, completely transparent, with a square, angular shape. The mouth of the bottle was adorned with a fine gold wire, and a plum blossom was inlaid on the body of the bottle. It was undoubtedly exquisite and breathtaking, a masterpiece. In his twenty-six years of life, Wang Zhen had never seen a colorless glass bottle, not even in the imperial palace or the national treasury.

However, despite its beauty, the craftsmanship of the gold wire on the bottle was slightly lacking. The bottle contained a light yellow liquid, which made the flawed goldwork less noticeable.

Wang Zhen leaned in for a sniff, “Is this Golden Wisp?”

“It is.”

Wang Zhen examined the bottle for a while longer. “Where did you get this glass bottle?”

Glassware was mostly reserved for royalty. It was rare to find such glassware outside the palace, especially something as refined as this, nearly comparable to tribute items.

Tang Shen replied, “I made it myself for you, Senior Brother.”

Hearing this, Wang Zhen’s head snapped up, staring at Tang Shen intently.

Tang Shen smiled, “In the three years we’ve known each other, I’ve gained much. This is my New Year’s gift to you.”

Wang Zhen gazed at Tang Shen for a long time before finally speaking in a slow, drawn-out tone, “My Little Junior Brother has prepared a gift for me, yet I haven’t prepared one for you. I suppose I owe you a gift now.”

Tang Shen certainly wouldn’t refuse Wang Zhen’s offer of a gift; in fact, he’d eagerly agree with both hands and feet.

Who wouldn’t take advantage of a good deal?

However, two days passed, and Tang Shen still hadn’t received a gift from Wang Zifeng.

“I never would have thought that even Wang Zifeng would lie. A man’s promises truly can’t be trusted.”

After lamenting this, Tang Shen packed his bags and prepared to return home for the New Year with Tang Huang.

Yes, this year, Tang Shen decided to return to Gusu Prefecture to visit his parents’ grave.

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Yao San still had matters to attend to in Shengjing, so he stayed behind. Tang Shen brought his younger sister and his page boy Feng Bi, and they boarded a boat to sail south along the Grand Canal. Ten days later, they arrived in Gusu Prefecture.

As soon as they disembarked, they were met with the sound of drums and firecrackers.

Tang Shen was startled and saw Tang juren and the clan leader of the Tang family approaching quickly. “Jing Ze, you’re finally back. We’ve been waiting for you all year!”

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TN: bonus chapter💕

Inside the Immortal Ascension Platform, Li Xiaoren, the Director of the Astronomical Bureau, was holding a jade bowl. He dipped a bamboo leaf into the water in the bowl and lightly sprinkled it on Zhao Fu. Emperor Zhao Fu of the Song Dynasty was dressed in Taoist robes, sitting cross-legged at the center of the Taiji Eight Trigrams array, eyes closed, cultivating immortality.  

Su Wenyun said nothing after arriving and simply waited nearby.  

After a quarter of an hour, Zhao Fu opened his eyes and said, “You may leave.”  

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Li Xiaoren didn’t respond at first but understood Zhao Fu’s meaning after a few seconds. He immediately withdrew from the Immortal Ascension Platform.  

Zhao Fu looked up at Su Wenyun, his expression indifferent, like that of an emotionless immortal. His voice echoed through the platform as he spoke, “When did Fei Ran arrive?”  

Su Wenyun replied, “It had just been a quarter of an hour.”  

Zhao Fu remained seated in meditation and asked, “How is it?”  

Su Wenyun responded, “The corruption case from the southern snow disaster three years ago only led to Xie Cheng. Beyond him, if there’s no one else, then they are either hidden too well, or no further leads can be found. I am incompetent and must beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”  

Zhao Fu nodded slightly, seemingly deep in thought.  

“The snow disaster affected a large area, and the court allocated two million taels for disaster relief. Just one Xie Cheng isn’t enough, is it?” Zhao Fu remarked, but he didn’t continue. Instead, he said meaningfully, “I remember that year, Gusu wasn’t affected by the snow disaster. It’s truly a blessed place, and Tang qing is from Gusu, isn’t he?”  

Su Wenyun naturally understood the emperor’s meaning. By all rights, he should have seized this moment to slander Tang Shen, but instead, he curled his lips slightly and said, “Although Tang daren once studied under Liang Song daren, the former governor of Gusu, after Liang daren hanged himself, Tang Shen left for the north within a month to seek out another renowned teacher, distancing himself from Liang daren. Such decisiveness; I’m not his equal in that regard.”  

On the surface, this remark seemed to praise Tang Shen for his decisiveness, but it was actually a subtle criticism, implying that Tang Shen was disloyal, abandoning his teacher the moment he died. If Liang Song knew, he might rise from the grave in anger.  

Zhao Fu looked at Su Wenyun, who made no effort to conceal his disdain for Tang Shen, curling his lips.  

Zhao Fu said, “Those who know how to adapt are the most outstanding. There was indeed some wrongdoing on Jing Ze’s part, but he’s still young.”  

Su Wenyun restrained his expression and didn’t respond.  

Zhao Fu waved his hand. “You may go.”  

“Yes, Your Majesty.”  

After leaving the Immortal Ascension Platform, Su Wenyun saw Tang Shen as soon as he stepped outside. Smiling bright and haughty, Su Wenyun said, “Tang daren, you owe me a great favor. From now on, we’ll call it even for that time I used you as scapegoat in Cizhou.”  

Tang Shen frowned.  

Su Wenyun said no more and strode away.  

Inside the Immortal Ascension Platform, Zhao Fu toyed with two translucent luminous pearls, turning them over in his palm. He looked thoughtfully at the ground and said, “I remember, Tang Shen is seventeen this year, isn’t he?”  

Only Zhao Fu and Ji Fu were inside the platform. Hearing this, Ji Fu waited a moment before realizing the emperor expected a response, so he quickly replied, “In answer to Your Majesty, Tang daren was only sixteen when he achieved third place in the imperial examinations. That was early last year. I remember it was Your Majesty who personally appointed him as the tanhua.” 

Zhao Fu said, “Ah, yes, that’s right. I almost forgot. I greatly enjoyed the essay he wrote for my birthday last year. It was truly resplendent.”  

Ji Fu smiled. “Tang daren is truly talented, a rising star. Your servant is envious to the point of jealousy.”  

“Haha, you old rascal.”  

The hall fell silent for a moment. Then Zhao Fu said slowly, “When it comes to flattery, he’s even better than Zi Feng.”  

Ji Fu was startled and dared not say a word.  

Zhao Fu sighed, “That’s exactly why I like him.”  

A mercenary, sycophantic official might be considered a petty villain or a treacherous minister, but Zhao Fu liked it—Zhao Fu liked it very much.  

“Su Feiran dislikes him, and Wang Zifeng likes him,” Zhao Fu mused. “How is it that such a remarkable person as Tang Jingze was born, someone who can be wedged right between the two of them? That makes me like him even more.”  

No matter how clever Ji Fu was, he was still just a eunuch. He couldn’t comprehend Zhao Fu’s intentions, so he could only smile along.  

Naturally, how could a eunuch understand the intricacies of imperial politics?  

In the court, many esteemed ministers were aging and have formed their own factions. Even Zhao Fu found it challenging to deal with them without causing turmoil. Meanwhile, the younger faction, led by Wang Zhen and Su Wenyun, had gradually risen under Zhao Fu’s intentional support, beginning to rival the older ministers.  

Among the younger officials, Wang Zhen and Su Wenyun didn’t get along.  

If there were a chessboard laid out in the Zichen Hall right now, one could see that the officials were like chess pieces, with the emperor manipulating them from both sides, as clear as the division between the Chu River and Han Border. Zhao Fu’s eyes, though already clouded with age, missed none of the storms brewing in the court. Even a hundred years later, he would still be remembered as the wisest emperor of the Song Dynasty, to be praised for eternity.  

He would be immortal, and he would be the most enlightened ruler.  

Zhao Fu smiled enigmatically, then closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.  

That evening, officials from the Ministry of Rites delivered a new official robe to the Tanhua Residence. Tang Shen changed into the new robe, and Tang Huang excitedly circled around him several times. Slowly, her excitement faded, and she pouted. “It’s a fourth-rank official’s robe, but Brother, it doesn’t look all that different from what you used to wear.”  

Tang Shen glanced at his sister. “In the third year of Kaiping, the Song and Liao were at war, and the then-Minister of Revenue, now the current Right Prime Minister Wang Quan, petitioned to simplify all officials’ attire to reduce state expenditures. Look closely at this sleeve.”  

Tang Huang leaned in and examined it carefully. “What about the sleeve?”  

“There’s silver thread here! Only fourth-rank officials can use silver thread!”  

Tang Huang: “…”

Who could even tell?  

Tang Shen’s promotion delighted the whole household, but the best part was that he could now sleep in an extra half an hour each day.  

As a chamberlain, Tang Shen had to rise earlier than all the other officials, arriving at the palace before them. For the past year, Tang Shen hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep. Even when he wasn’t on duty, he still had to rush to the palace, awaiting orders.  

Aside from that, Tang Shen, now a fourth-rank Attendant Secretary, didn’t have to attend morning court on his first day, only needing to report to the Qinzheng Hall afterward.  

For the first time since becoming an official, Tang Shen enjoyed a good night’s sleep.  

In the morning, he dressed in his official robe and entered the palace, arriving at the Qinzheng Hall.  

Tang Shen had visited the Qinzheng Hall several times before. It was the only office within the palace. The Song Dynasty had designated a special area for the Secretariat officials to work, so the Qinzheng Hall was also known as the Secretariat Office. However, not all Secretariat officials worked there.  

As a chamberlain, Tang Shen was technically a Secretariat official, but his office was located outside the palace, not in the Qinzheng Hall.  

In simple terms, the Qinzheng Hall had three main areas. The first was the offices of the four Prime Ministers—Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji, Right Prime Minister Wang Quan, Left Vice Prime Minister Chen Linghai, and Right Vice Prime Minister Xu Bi. The second area housed the offices of the six Ministers of the Six Ministries, with three rooms in total, two Ministers sharing each room. The Ministers didn’t work in the Qinzheng Hall every day, as they often performed their duties in the Six Ministries Office outside the palace.  

Behind these rooms was where the rest of the Secretariat officials worked.  

The third-rank officials of the Secretariat shared two rooms, while Tang Shen, as a fourth-rank official, shared one room with others of the same rank.  

Thus, only officials of fourth-rank or higher could work in the Qinzheng Hall.  

Tang Shen arrived early, not keeping anyone waiting. By the time morning court ended, officials returned to the hall. The three other Attendant Secretaries of the Secretariat were surprised to see Tang Shen, but they quickly cupped their hands and congratulated him. “Congratulations to Tang daren. From now on, we will be colleagues.”

Tang Shen smiled and replied, “Thank you, Ji daren, Liu daren, and Lin daren.”

Ji Miao laughed and said, “The last time I saw Tang daren was three months ago. I was running an errand for Wang daren and happened to come across you. It was just a brief meeting, and I never expected that today we would become colleagues.”

Another attendant secretary added, “Tang daren is only seventeen this year, correct? Truly a remarkable young talent.”

After exchanging some pleasantries, Ji Miao continued, “Here in Qinzheng Hall, I serve Ji xianggong, Liu daren serves Wang xianggong, and Lin daren serves Chen xianggong. Now that you have joined us, you will likely be working for Xu xianggong. Since the morning court session has just ended and Xu xianggong is quite busy, I imagine someone will come looking for you soon.”

As expected, half an hour later, a government officer came to the hall to summon Tang Shen, saying that Xu xianggong, the Right Vice Prime Minister, had requested his presence.

Tang Shen adjusted his official robes and followed the officer to the room where Xu Bi was located.

Xu Bi was reading a memorial, and when Tang Shen arrived, he nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Tang Shen did not say a word, obediently standing behind Xu Bi.

Once Xu Bi finished reading the memorial, he sighed and handed it to Tang Shen. “Take a look.”

Tang Shen respectfully received the document with both hands and began reading it.

At first, he remained calm, but halfway through, he was completely bewildered. He reconsidered and started over from the beginning, carefully reading every word of the memorial.

Tang Shen: “…”

Tang Shen finally said, “I’ve finished reading it.”

Xu Bi took a sip of tea. “Well, what do you think?”

“…Liu daren, the Governor of Cangzhou, is eloquent, his writing is splendid, and his talent far surpasses mine.”

Simply put, the memorial was full of pointless rhetoric, leaving the reader dizzy.

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Xu Bi smiled helplessly. “This will be your new duty. The memorials from local officials are sent to me for review. After I read them, I summarize the key points before passing them on to His Majesty. As you may know, given your previous role as court chamberlain, His Majesty has to review an enormous number of these each day.”

“I am aware.”

Xu Bi sighed, “His Majesty does not have it easy!”

For the first time, Tang Shen felt a sincere sympathy for Emperor Zhao Fu.

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TN: bonus chapter💕

Among the four prime ministers in Qinzheng Hall, the Right Vice Prime Minister, Xu Bi, is the eldest, having surpassed the age of seventy this year. It is said that last year, Xu xianggong requested to retire and return to his hometown, and Zhao Fu was initially inclined to agree. However, since no suitable replacement could be found, removing Xu Bi might greatly disrupt the balance of the court. So, Zhao Fu kept him in office.

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Xu xianggong is known for his kind demeanor and often meets with fourth-rank officials in the back room of Qingzheng Hall. All memorials sent from various regions to Shengjing must first pass through Xu Bi before being presented to the emperor. Tang Shen, as a Secretariat official, had just returned from Xu Bi’s room when he saw two government workers carrying a box of memorials, following him into the office.

Tang Shen sighed deeply.  

He had spent the entire morning reviewing memorials.

By noon, his stomach was growling. While the officials continued working, the government workers in Qinzheng Hall brought meals to the officials, each carrying a bucket of food.

Officials working in Qinzheng Hall are at least fourth-rank, prestigious even in the capital of Shengjing, making them close confidants of the emperor. However, when it came to lunch, the food the government workers brought over was still the simplest—one meat dish and one vegetable dish. The rice was so hard it hurt one’s teeth, and while the side dishes were fine, they were far from tasty.

Tang Shen recalled that when he served as a chamberlain in the past, if it was his turn to serve in the palace, he would follow Zhao Fu and enjoy a decent meal cooked by the imperial chefs. On days when he wasn’t on duty, the food at the government office was just as bad as that at Qinzheng Hall—even worse than the canteen food in the future!

Having enjoyed two years of good food while living in Gusu, and with Aunt Yao’s excellent cooking when he returned home, Tang Shen found his current status as a high official sounded prestigious, but it meant he would no longer enjoy meals prepared by the imperial chefs. From now on, he would only eat this subpar food every day.

Tang Shen sighed and began eating with no appetite.

In Qinzheng Hall, the officials seemed used to it, eating their meals calmly.

Halfway through his meal, Tang Shen suddenly noticed a familiar figure standing outside. He paused, thought for a moment, and then set down his chopsticks to walk out.

In the middle of the courtyard stood Wang Zhen, dressed in a deep red official robe, holding a token in his hand, looking at Tang Shen.

At first glance, Tang Shen noticed the token and asked, “Senior Brother, what brings you here? What is that?”

Wang Zhen tucked the token into his sleeve, gave Tang Shen a once-over, and sighed, “Little Junior Brother, have you lost weight?”

Tang Shen was puzzled. He thought to himself, but I don’t think I’ve lost weight?

“Why do you say that, Senior Brother?”

Wang Zhen replied, “You haven’t lost weight yet, but in three days, you definitely will. Can you even stomach the food here in Qinzheng Hall?”

Tang Shen grimaced, clearly suffering.

Wang Zhen understood his expression and smiled faintly. “Come with me.”

Tang Shen, unsure of what was going on, followed Wang Zhen. As they walked through the flower corridor, every government worker who passed them would stop to greet “Wang xianggong” before continuing on their way. Wang Zhen led Tang Shen to the office where he worked as the Minister of Revenue. Just before entering, Tang Shen hesitated and stopped.

Wang Zhen turned to look at him. “Meng daren is not on duty in the palace today.”

Meng daren, as in the Minister of Rites, Meng Lang!

Tang Shen hadn’t forgotten how, during his first visit to Qinzheng Hall, Meng daren had escorted him from the chambers of the four prime ministers all the way to the offices of the six ministries, making him feel like a spectacle for the high-ranking officials to gawk at. The culprit behind that ordeal was none other than Meng daren, who shared an office with Wang Zhen!

With Meng daren absent, Tang Shen felt at ease following Wang Zhen into the room.

After a moment, two government workers entered with a food box. They uncovered the dishes and set them on the table. Though not as good as the imperial chef’s cuisine, and even Wang Zhen’s household cook could do better, Tang Shen had just eaten cafeteria food. Now, upon seeing this spread, his eyes lit up.

Wang Zhen had prepared a private meal!

The two began to eat, and after they were full, Tang Shen curiously asked, “Senior Brother, where did this food come from? I thought all the officials in Qinzheng Hall ate together.”

Wang Zhen explained, “You’re not wrong, but you don’t know that the four prime ministers have their own private kitchen.”

“Ah?” Wait, what does that have to do with you?

Wang Zhen sipped his Longjing tea, gazing into the distance, and softly said, “I’ve been fortunate to receive the favor of the Right Prime Minister, so I often get to share some of the food.”

It took Tang Shen a while to process this…

The Right Minister? 

Wang Quan!  

Wang Zhen’s uncle!

Indeed, having connections in the court makes everything easier—even eating is different from others! Then, upon reflection, Tang Shen realized he also had connections in the court—he had Wang Zhen. That’s how he managed to enjoy this meal.

After eating, they shared some tea, and Tang Shen was about to return to reviewing memorials. Just before leaving, he hesitated and said, “Senior Brother Zi Feng.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m currently working under Xu xianggong.”

Wang Zhen looked up at Tang Shen.

Tang Shen met his gaze.

After a long pause, Wang Zhen smiled. “Little Junior Brother, would you like to come for lunch again tomorrow?”

Tang Shen let out a breath of relief and smiled. “Sure!”

Since Zhao Fu ascended the throne, the ministers of the Secretariat have changed several times. Some were demoted for serious crimes, but most retired peacefully due to old age. The four prime ministers currently in charge of Qinzheng Hall each have their own faction.

Among them, Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji, who came from humble origins, keeps to himself and rarely interacts with the other three.  

Right Prime Minister Wang Quan, from a prestigious family of the Langya Wang clan, is close friends with Left Vice Prime Minister Chen Linghai, his former classmate.  

Meanwhile, the eldest of the prime ministers, Right Vice Prime Minister Xu Bi, is a respected elder who has served under three emperors.

Wang Zhen belongs to the younger generation of officials, but he is also Wang Quan’s nephew. No matter what, he’s tied to Wang Quan. Now that Tang Shen works under Xu Bi, he had intentionally brought this up with Wang Zhen. Wang Zhen’s response was simply to invite him for lunch the next day, brushing off the matter without much concern.

Though it wasn’t a major issue, Tang Shen didn’t want this to cause a rift in his relationship with Wang Zhen. By now, his feelings toward Wang Zhen had grown beyond mere utility. He had come to see him as a true senior brother—a trusted friend, almost like an elder sibling. He had never forgotten what Wang Zhen did for him that night at the posthouse in Cizhou.

Zhao Fu sent Wang Zhen to Cizhou to check on the progress of the embezzlement case. Wang Zhen could have proceeded at a normal marching speed. Even if he arrived at Cizhou without obtaining Su Wenyun’s ledger, he would still receive praise from Zhao Fu. At the age of just twenty-seven, he had already achieved the rank of Minister of Revenue. This time, even with his great contributions, Zhao Fu only rewarded him with gold and silver, with no other accolades. No matter how great his achievements, all Zhao Fu could give him were material rewards.

The reason for his urgency in marching was, firstly, to get involved in the Cizhou embezzlement case earlier and claim more credit. Secondly, it was because of Tang Shen.

Cizhou was a dangerous quagmire, filled with dangers. Tang Shen was only a minor fifth-rank chamberlain. Everyone knew he was the emperor’s spy, but his position in Cizhou was awkward, as he wasn’t truly accepted by anyone.

Tang Shen knew that Wang Zhen had hurried his march to Cizhou for his sake.

Now that Wang Zhen had made his stance clear, Tang Shen felt a great weight lift off his shoulders.

As he was about to leave, Wang Zhen rose from the chair and grabbed his wrist.

“Senior Brother Zi Feng?”

“Jing Ze, I’m very happy today.”

Tang Shen was taken aback.

“…I don’t understand what you mean, Senior Brother.”

Wang Zhen smiled, his already delicate features becoming even more elegant and refined as his eyes curved. He let go of Tang Shen’s hand. “Go ahead.”

Tang Shen: “…?”

What madness has Wang Zifeng come under now?

Feeling bewildered, Tang Shen returned to his room and spent the entire day reading memorials. By evening, he saw the carriages of the four prime ministers leave the front gate of Qinzheng Hall one by one, followed by several second-rank ministers of the six ministries carrying the lanterns of their respective houses. Only after the third-rank officials had departed did Tang Shen and the other fourth-rank officials leave the palace.

In early September, Yao San and Tang Huang traveled to Ningzhou.

Half a month later, they returned from Ningzhou. Yao San brought back a letter and handed it to Tang Shen, saying, “Little boss, I’ve met Wang daren and delivered your letter. He said everything is fine and wrote you this letter. Please have a look.”

Tang Shen opened the letter and carefully read through it.

The letter, written by Wang Xiao, detailed matters regarding the official road in Ningzhou.

Among the three official roads, the one in Ningzhou was the best constructed. However, due to unexpected heavy rains in the north, the roads had become muddy and unsuitable for construction. As a result, the scheduled completion of the road, originally set for the end of September, had to be postponed until the end of October.

This timeframe was still within Tang Shen’s acceptable range, as it was only in November that the flow of customers to Xixia Tower would significantly increase.

However, this time, Li Yude, the Left Vice Minister of Works responsible for the construction of the Ningzhou road, managed to surprise everyone.

By early October, the Ningzhou road was completely finished.

Li Yude returned to Shengjing with the completed road project, just in time for Zhao Fu’s birthday. The emperor was greatly pleased and bestowed many rewards.

The emperor’s grand birthday was a time of celebration for the entire nation.

That afternoon, as Tang Shen was secretly eating a private meal in the Minister of Revenue’s room, Wang Zhen took only one bite, set down his chopsticks, and smiled at him.

With Wang Zhen looking at him like that, how could Tang Shen even think about eating?

“Senior Brother…” What are you doing?

Wang Zhen: “What day is it today?”

Tang Shen paused for a moment, then found it quite amusing.

Wang Zifeng was truly an interesting person. Of course, he knew today was Wang Zhen’s birthday. There was probably no one in the world whose birthday was easier to remember—just recall that it was the day before the emperor’s, and you’d remember it perfectly. Tang Shen hadn’t expected Wang Zhen to care about such things, and his question gave Tang Shen the strange feeling of being quizzed by a girlfriend about a hundred-day anniversary.

Tang Shen was speechless at his own bizarre thoughts. He cleared his throat and said, “Today is Senior Brother’s birthday.”

Wang Zhen: “Tonight, Sir is also coming over for dinner. When will you arrive, Jing Ze?”

Fu Wei is going too?

Tang Shen replied, “After I leave the palace, I’ll go home, change out of my official robes, and then head to the Minister Residence.”

Wang Zifeng spent his twenty-seventh birthday at the Minister Residence.

The next day was the emperor’s birthday, a day of nationwide celebration.

By November, the cold winter in Shengjing became unbearable, and the flow of customers to Xixia Tower surged. Fortunately, there was no shortage of beef and mutton. After the completion of the Ningzhou road, a horse could make a round trip in just one day.

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

In early December, Shopkeeper Lu and Yao San made a trip to the north. When they returned, Shopkeeper Lu brought back a white stone and handed it to Tang Shen. Upon seeing the stone, Tang Shen’s eyes lit up. He examined it for a long time, then asked, “Where did you find this?”

Shopkeeper Lu replied, “This isn’t from Ningzhou. We had to go farther northeast, near the border with Liao. That’s where we found it. Little boss, is this the dolomite you were looking for? It took me quite a while to find it! The locals don’t call it dolomite, they call it ‘lingzi stone!'”

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