Sunsets are all alike in their setting, yet the people beneath them are vastly different.
The streets teem with all sorts of people; some are brimming with ambition and self-satisfaction, while others are utterly exhausted.
The carriages and horses of the rich and powerful swagger through the market streets, whereas the impoverished can only press themselves against the roadside, looking on with envy.
Life holds more than just the grim struggles right before your eyes; there is also a poetic charm you fail to grasp even after reading it three times, and a distant horizon you could never possibly reach.
The universe and the earth remain the same; what differs is merely people from one another.
Yet people share one commonality: the thousands of lights twinkling beneath the veil of night.
It is just that some lights are dazzling and brilliant, while others are meager and wretched.
"The master is back!"
"Mind your step, Master."
Before the residence of Zhang Sheng, dozens of servants lined up on both sides. The head steward stood at the very front, gently supporting Zhang Sheng as he slowly stepped out of the sedan chair.
Two servants quickly and sensibly stepped forward, bending down to hold up gauze lanterns to illuminate the steps beneath Zhang Sheng's feet,
even though the lingering glow of the setting sun still spilled across the stone steps.
Zhang Sheng strode proudly across the high threshold of the Zhang family mansion, his gaze casually sweeping about before catching sight of a few faded, peeling spots in the cracks of the main gate.
"Who is responsible for sweeping the front gate?"
Zhang Sheng stopped in his tracks and asked in a soft voice.
The steward hurriedly stepped forward, bowed, and replied respectfully, "Master, Zhang San and Li Si from the front courtyard were in charge of it."
With that, the steward followed Zhang Sheng's gaze toward the faded spots and was instantly struck with panic.
"The main gate represents the face of our Zhang family," Zhang Sheng said with a dark expression, continuing onward.
The steward stood rooted to the spot, violently turning his head to curse furiously, "Give those two brainless scoundrels a severe beating and kick them out of the estate!"
After the scolding, the steward hurried to catch up with Zhang Sheng. "Master, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent a letter today."
Zhang Sheng did not even spare the letter a glance. "Send someone to tell the Prince that I have already returned to the manor. If he has matters to discuss with me, pray come over for a visit."
Accustomed to this routine as if it were second nature, the steward turned away smoothly to make the arrangements.
"Father."
Seeing Zhang Sheng enter the main hall, his eldest son, Zhang Hanxing, strode forward to greet him.
Upon seeing his son, Zhang Sheng's brows knitted tightly together. He had been strong-willed his entire life, fighting his way to the position of Grand Secretary, and now controlled the imperial court with absolute authority. Yet neither of his two sons gave him any peace of mind.
His eldest son, Zhang Hanxing, had taken the imperial examinations for a lifetime, barely managing to scrape together the title of a provincial graduate only because the chief examiner half-passed and half-gifted it to him. Later, an official post in the imperial court was secured for him, but he simply neglected his proper duties, riding on the status of the eldest young master of the Zhang family to run amok in the Holy Capital.
His second son, Zhang Chengcheng, had no interest in an official career and devoted himself entirely to Daoism. He had traveled thousands of miles to join the Daoist order, declaring that he had severed all ties with the mortal world and would no longer care for secular affairs, telling the people of the Zhang family never to look for him again.
"Father, guess who was here just now." Zhang Hanxing helped Zhang Sheng be seated in the master's chair and smilingly handed him a cup of tea.
"Who?" Zhang Sheng took a small sip.
"It was the Second Master." Zhang Hanxing lowered his voice, speaking in a tone meant only for the two of them to hear.
In an instant, Zhang Sheng's eyes narrowed sharply. "The Second Prince?"
"Indeed," Zhang Hanxing chuckled. "He came in person and waited for you in the main hall for half an hour before leaving. If you had returned just a little earlier, you would have run into him."
"Hmph," Zhang Sheng lowered his gaze. "Did he say anything?"
"The Second Master said he had some problems he couldn't figure out and wanted to consult you. He didn't tell me the specifics, and since you hadn't returned, he said he would come to pay a visit next time he has free time."
Zhang Sheng let out another cold snort and remained silent.
Zhang Hanxing went on with a sigh, "You should have seen how courteous the Second Master was. He didn't put on any airs of an imperial prince at all; he was so polite that even I began to feel embarrassed."
Zhang Sheng shook his head, seemingly displeased with his son's behavior.
Zhang Hanxing paused, lowered his head once more, and spoke softly, "The Second Master didn't come empty-handed. He brought you a gift—an entire carriage full! I told him we couldn't possibly accept it, but he insisted regardless and had his guards carry everything into the manor..."
"Crash!"
Zhang Sheng violently hurled the teacup in his hand to the ground, shattering it into pieces as tea splashed everywhere.
Seeing this, the steward at the doorway hurriedly waved his hand, and the dozen or so servants waiting outside to attend instantly bowed their heads and retreated in silence.
Zhang Sheng stared fixedly at his son, his hands trembling uncontrollably with an urge to both beat and scold him.
It seemed as though a thousand words were choked in his chest, and he knew not where to begin.
Startled by this scene, Zhang Hanxing shrank back and lowered his head timidly. "I really kept telling him no and tried to refuse. But they just brought it inside anyway, and besides, Father, he is an imperial prince..."
"So what if he is a prince! I asked you, what of it even if he is a prince?" Zhang Sheng flew into a rage. He stood up, intending to go over and slap his son across the face, but rising too abruptly brought on a sudden wave of dizziness, his head buzzing.
"Father!" Zhang Hanxing scrambled forward to support him.
Shoving his hand away, Zhang Sheng glared at his son like a wolf. "I ask you, what of a prince?"
Zhang Hanxing hastily dropped to his knees, already sobbing. "Your son dared not refuse..."
Finally, Zhang Sheng recovered his composure, stepped forward, and delivered a fierce kick to Zhang Hanxing, sending him rolling across the ground.
"Before, I merely thought you lacked drive and were somewhat foolish. But now it seems you are utterly brainless, no better than a pig or a dog!"
Beside himself with fury, Zhang Sheng cursed vehemently, "Has my Zhang family truly become so arrogant that we dare accept gifts from an imperial prince? I, Zhang Sheng, as a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, may disregard an imperial prince, but you people—what gives the Zhang family the audacity to accept gifts from one?"
Dumbfounded, Zhang Hanxing collapsed limply onto the ground like a pile of mud.
"You've really outdone yourself, haven't you, making decisions on my behalf! If you had even a shred of sense, you should have dropped to your knees on the spot and refused to the death!"
Seeing Zhang Sheng's chest heave violently with anger, Zhang Hanxing crawled miserably across the floor a few paces and clutched Zhang Sheng's ankles. "Then your son will go straight to the storehouse to pick out gifts and send back double right away..."
Hearing this made Zhang Sheng even more furious, and he kicked his son flying once more. "Do you intend to ally yourself with an imperial prince? Do you want to pin the crime of colluding with a prince on me as well? Truly an idiot! If I die, the Zhang family will be finished, utterly finished!"
"Father..." Zhang Hanxing no longer dared to speak.
"His Majesty is gravely ill and has entrusted the affairs of state to me. I can oppose or even offend anyone in matters of governance, including the Crown Prince. Because I, Zhang Sheng, have climbed to this position relying solely on my loyalty to His Majesty and to the Holy Dynasty. Even if the Censorate floods the court with memorials impeaching me for arrogance and insolence, I am not afraid, for my conscience is clear!"
"All of this is for public duty, but in private, we must never become entangled with an imperial prince. What would that imply? Are you wishing for His Majesty to pass away so we can prop up a new sovereign in advance? The Zhang family will come to a bad end..."
As Zhang Sheng spoke, the corners of his eyes grew moist.
"Father, your son knows he was wrong. What should we do about the gifts?"
"Pack up every single thing the Second Prince sent, without missing a single item, and have them delivered back to him by fast courier immediately—right out there in the open, for all the public to see!"