Wang Zhen and Tang Shen immediately stepped closer.
Zhao Fu spoke slowly, “All of you, leave now.”
Ji Fu and the divine doctor, who had been standing by, responded with a “Yes,” bowed, and then left.
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Zhao Fu looked up at Tang Shen and Wang Zhen, his gaze finally settling on Wang Zhen. He smiled weakly, his voice frail, “Zi Feng, it seems you’ve been in Jiangnan for half a year this time.”
“Answering Your Majesty, I left for Jiangnan in October last year. It has been over five months now.”
“How did it go?”
Wang Zhen recounted the affairs of the Jiangnan Silver Bank in detail.
Zhao Fu listened and nodded gently. Finally, he said, “Do you resent me for giving the Jiangnan Silver Bank to Yu Chaosheng? If not for that, your work in Jiangnan would have been much smoother.”
Wang Zhen’s eyes flickered slightly. In the past, Zhao Fu would never have spoken to him about such matters of court politics. But this time, he brought it up. Wang Zhen bowed respectfully, his voice calm and gentle, “Your Majesty has your reasons. Among the thirty-six provinces of the Great Song, the Northern and Southern Zhili and the three provinces of Jiangnan are the most prosperous. The affairs of the Great Song Silver Bank are the most difficult to manage in these regions. With Your Majesty overseeing the two Zhili regions, I have no worries. If even Jiangnan were managed by Your Majesty on my behalf, I would be far too incompetent.”
“Oh, you.” Zhao Fu laughed heartily, but after a while, he seemed to run out of breath and stopped.
Then, Zhao Fu no longer spoke of court matters. Instead, he began to talk about his health. “During this bout of serious illness, I found myself in a grand and majestic hall amidst a chaotic fog. A stern-faced official sat there, slamming his gavel and asking me my name and why I had come.”
Tang Shen thought to himself: Did he see the King of Hell?
However, Zhao Fu’s words often carried deeper meanings.
The two continued to listen.
Zhao Fu said, “I answered him one by one. Then the official asked me if I had any merits. I was stumped. I pondered deeply and asked him, ‘What are merits, daren? Could you enlighten me?’ The stern-faced official told me that to answer for the lives of the common people and to achieve great deeds for future generations—these are the supreme merits.”
Zhao Fu sighed deeply, “But I have lived over sixty years in vain and have accomplished none of these!”
Wang Zhen and Tang Shen almost simultaneously bowed, speaking in unison.
“Your Majesty, please forgive our offense.”
“Your Majesty, please forgive our offense.”
Zhao Fu was taken aback. He looked at them, and after a moment, he smiled, “Truly, hearts that beat as one understand each other without words.”
Tang Shen said, “Your subject is guilty and begs Your Majesty’s forgiveness. But I also have something to say, and I beg Your Majesty’s permission to speak.”
“Go ahead.”
“Last year, when I went to Jinzhou on official business for the Ministry of Works to build a road, I heard a poem about Jinzhou. The poem went like this: ‘In Jinzhou, there is a fierce tiger, gluttonous for human flesh. In ten households, only one woman remains, weeping and asking where her family has gone.’ Jinzhou is located in the southwest, with rugged mountain paths that make communication with the outside world difficult. The poem speaks of a man-eating tiger in Jinzhou, causing the people to suffer, with nine out of ten households wiped out. Yet the outside world remains unaware.” Tang Shen clasped his hands and continued, “But when I went to Jinzhou this time, I did not see a desolate and impoverished land ravaged by tigers and wolves. Instead, I saw a prosperous and happy people, all because the nation is at peace and the people are secure.”
“Is this not the greatest merit of all?”
Zhao Fu’s smile deepened. He pointed at Tang Shen for a while, then finally laughed, “You, you always know how to make me happy. I’ve slept through the new year. Jing Ze, you must be twenty-three now.”
“Your subject is indeed twenty-three this year.”
“In the past, I could say it was just a young man sweet-talking me. But if you keep flattering me like this in the future, I’ll have to consider you a sycophant.”
Though he spoke of a crime punishable by the extermination of one’s clan, there was not a hint of reproach in Zhao Fu’s tone.
Tang Shen slowly raised his head and looked at the emperor on the bed. He saw a man weakened by illness, yet the majestic aura around him remained undiminished. But at this moment, he no longer seemed like a ruler but more like an elder. Tang Shen suddenly felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. He silently lowered his head and said nothing.
Zhao Fu spoke with Wang Zhen and Tang Shen for a while longer, but as he had just recovered from a serious illness, he was still weak and needed to rest. He called Ji Fu back in. Before the two left, he sighed and said to Wang Zhen and Tang Shen, “I wish to achieve great merits!”
Who in this world does not wish to leave a legacy that lasts for millennia?
Tang Shen solemnly replied to the emperor, “Your subject will not fail in this task.”
Wang Zhen and Tang Shen left the palace together. They did not speak much along the way, but when they reached the palace gates, they saw Grand Preceptor Zhou’s carriage. The carriage stopped in front of them, and Grand Preceptor Zhou lifted the curtain. He sat upright inside. Seeing Wang Zhen and Tang Shen, the old marshal nodded slightly.
“Lower officials Wang Zhen and Tang Shen greet the Grand Preceptor.”
“No need for formalities. Minister Wang is now the Senior Grand Secretary of the Left overseeing the Department of State Affairs, a first-rank official, the same as myself. There is no need to bow.”
Wang Zhen smiled slightly, “The respect I offer is not for the Grand Marshal of the Realm’s Military Forces, but for the Grand Preceptor.”
Grand Preceptor Zhou rarely showed a smile, but he nodded in approval. The carriage soon continued on its way into the palace.
Tang Shen thought to himself: Zhao Fu says I know how to flatter and sweet-talk, but compared to Wang Zifeng, I probably can’t even match one of his toes! Look at how effortlessly he delivers those compliments, without even batting an eye.
“Eh?” Suddenly, someone flicked his forehead. Tang Shen turned, “Senior Brother?”
Wang Zhen looked down at him, raising an eyebrow, “Are you secretly mocking me in your heart?”
Tang Shen replied righteously, “Of course not. Do you have any proof?”
Wang Zhen was amused by him, “Where did you learn this skill of being so righteous and utterly unashamed?”
“From you, of course.”
Wang Zhen sighed, placing a hand on his forehead, his voice filled with mock tragedy, “Such a misfortune for the family! The century-old reputation of the Langya Wang family might be ruined by the wife of its eleventh-generation direct descendant… hehehe, don’t fuss. We’re still in the palace.”
Tang Shen widened his eyes. So you do remember we’re still in the palace?!
The two walked out of the palace together. At the same time, Grand Preceptor Zhou entered Funing Palace.
In the second month of the thirty-fifth year of Kaiping, Zhao Fu woke up, but no one believed he would live much longer. Everyone knew it was the emperor’s final flicker of life. Zhao Fu had fought battles in his youth and suffered many injuries. Now, in his old age, even the Liao Emperor, who was a dozen years younger, was in declining health. That Zhao Fu had woken up at all was already unexpected.
Yet, against all odds, Zhao Fu not only woke up but, with the care of the divine doctor and the imperial physicians, his health gradually improved.
Even Tang Shen found it miraculous. Every winter, Zhao Fu seemed on the verge of death, as if he could pass at any moment. But as soon as spring arrived, he became lively again, as if he could live another hundred years.
Among the officials, some felt they had wasted their emotions, having grieved prematurely for the emperor’s impending death.
Who could have thought that the emperor would bounce back to life!
On the sixth day of the fourth month of the thirty-fifth year of Kaiping, the morning court resumed, and all officials paid their respects.
Standing at the front of the civil officials on the left was still Left Prime Minister Xu Bi. But this time, standing at the front of the military officials on the right was the Grand Marshal of the Realm’s Military Forces, Grand Preceptor Zhou!
This grand morning court should have been held in the first month, but it was delayed until now due to Zhao Fu’s unconsciousness. The officials reported on the achievements of the past year. After two full hours, the grand morning court finally concluded.
However, the very next day, Grand Preceptor Zhou left the capital and returned to Youzhou. But no one expected that Zhao Fu would have him take the Second Prince, Zhao Shang, with him!
When the imperial edict arrived at the Second Prince’s residence, Zhao Shang was also confused. He hastily received the edict and immediately summoned his advisors, “Mr. Meng, what is the meaning of this? I have never been to a military camp, let alone Youzhou. Why would His Majesty suddenly issue such an edict?”
The advisor, Mr. Meng, had no idea what Zhao Fu intended. He pondered deeply, “Your Highness, don’t panic. This might not be a bad thing. Since the edict has been issued, we cannot defy it. We must go to Youzhou. But for now, only you have received the edict, not the Fourth or Fifth Princes. This shows that His Majesty has special plans for you. Grand Preceptor Zhou is His Majesty’s most trusted person. Since you are accompanying the Grand Preceptor, perhaps great opportunities await you in Youzhou!”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shang’s eyes lit up.
“Your words are wise. Please accompany me to Youzhou and assist me!”
“I will follow you to the death!”
Within a few days, Grand Preceptor Zhou set off for Youzhou with the Second Prince, Zhao Shang.
By the fifth month, the Department of Construction and Reform had achieved some results. Ji Mengwen, the director of the Department, wrote three memorials and sent them to Tang Shen’s desk. After reading them, Tang Shen immediately summoned him back from Southern Zhili.
That night, at the residence of the Right Prime Minister.
As the fifth month drew to a close, the pond was filled with blooming lotuses. The moonlight, like a veil, fell on the red lotuses, resembling a misty, ethereal fog.
The Right Prime Minister, Wang Quan, raised his cup to the moon, feeling inspired to recite poetry. He recited a poem about the moon by a past poet, then turned and said, “Zi Feng, why not compose a poem to add to the elegance of the moment?”
Wang Zhen swirled the white jade cup in his hand, his gaze clear and fluid, “Jing Ze once said something.”
“Oh? What did he say? Tell me.”
Wang Zhen, “He said, ‘You high officials are spending taxpayers’ money on lavish pleasures and carefree enjoyment.'”
“…En?”
Wang Zhen smiled, “He explained it to me like this: this phrase roughly means that while lost territories have not been recovered and the people are not yet prosperous, we high officials should not indulge in luxury and pleasure. Instead, we should work diligently, dedicating ourselves to the welfare of the people, even to the point of sacrificing our lives.”
“…”
The Right Prime Minister suddenly felt that his own fierce wife was quite lovely.
Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Wang Quan had no understanding of the intimate dynamics between other lovers, nor did he know under what circumstances Tang Shen had said those words.
Wang Quan finished a pot of wine and turned to serious matters, “Why didn’t you bring Tang Jingze with you today?”
Wang Zhen paused, then calmly lowered his gaze, “The matters to be discussed today are not suitable for him.”
Wang Quan laughed, “What could it be? It’s just the usual scheming and framing. You’re already a treacherous official. It’s not your first time doing this, and it won’t be your last.”
Wang Zhen looked up at him, “I believe that this time, Uncle will play the leading role.”
Wang Quan coughed twice, pretending not to hear.
Wang Zhen raised his wine cup, intending to drink another round, but remembering that he had already drunk quite a bit tonight, he decided against it. If he drank too much, he might reveal something when he returned home. Ordinary women, scholars, or officials might not notice anything amiss in his words or actions, but his junior brother was different. The slightest slip, and Tang Shen would become suspicious.
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Wang Zhen suddenly asked, “Am I a good person?”
Wang Quan, already somewhat drunk, was helped by a servant to the inner courtyard. Before leaving, he said to Wang Zhen, “You handle things as you see fit!”
Wang Zhen couldn’t help but laugh. Losing interest, he also prepared to leave.
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