After the Awakening of Insects, the Needlework Bureau and the Headwear Bureau began cutting summer clothes for the inner court, and affairs everywhere suddenly became busy.

At this time, one of the Emperor’s palace servants, Lady Jiang, became pregnant and was to be appointed Noble Lady.

Although both Lady Jiang and Madam Liang maintained a neutral attitude toward this consort who hadn’t been selected through civilian screening, since the Emperor now had only Prince Han Zhu Yilang as an heir, the mother’s status would rise with her child. The people of the Office of Ceremonies all went along with Yanxi Palace’s tide, and the Six Bureaus couldn’t be negligent either. Once the appointment decree came out, the entire Department of Ceremonies was thrown into chaos by this unexpected ceremonial appointment. Though Yang Wan was only a clerk handling document circulation in the Department of Ceremonies, she was so entangled by people from the Historical Records Repository at Huiji Gate that she couldn’t get away for several days.

Additionally, in Chengqian Palace, Consort Ning had caught a cold, which after dragging on for some days had become quite serious.

Yang Wan was exhausted daily going between Chengqian Palace and the Department of Ceremonies. When she occasionally squeezed out time to look for Deng Ying, she never managed to meet him.

From the fourth month of Zhenning’s twelfth year until the Tongjia Tragedy in the autumn of the same year, historical records about Deng Ying are almost blank.

For historical research, a lack of records either means peaceful times or matters too sensitive to mention.

Yang Wan wasn’t quite sure whether Deng Ying fell into the former or latter category, so she always felt somewhat uneasy.

However, Consort Ning was seriously ill, and Yilang was anxious, always looking for Yang Wan at night. Both emotionally and rationally, Yang Wan felt she couldn’t abandon them at this time.

This evening, Consort Ning was coughing severely again. After drinking the medicine served by Heyu, she tossed and turned on her couch for quite a while before finally falling asleep.

After putting Yilang to sleep, Yang Wan stood by the brocade screen waiting for Heyu. Seeing her come out, she gave her a meaningful look.

Heyu understood and came close to Yang Wan’s ear, whispering: “I think these symptoms are caused by the Noble Lady Jiang affair.”

Yang Wan asked softly: “Does Her Highness care about such things?”

Heyu shook her head, “Her Highness doesn’t care much about these things, but she’s always been someone who values dignity and respect. Recently when serving in the Emperor’s chambers…”

As she spoke, she glanced at the inner chamber again, “I’m only telling you this because you’re Her Highness’s sister. Just listen and don’t ask more, alright?”

Yang Wan nodded.

“Yes, I understand.”

Heyu led Yang Wan a few steps into the outer chamber and lowered her voice: “When Her Highness returned from serving the Emperor recently, I felt she was quite unhappy, but these are private matters – I can’t ask, only guess. I think… Her Highness probably received some words from His Majesty.”

What kind of words could they be? Naturally, words are spoken too boldly in bed.

Yang Wan didn’t want to know at all.

She had already heard many female servants in the Department of Ceremonies privately discuss Lady Jiang’s usual conduct, and Yang Wan certainly wouldn’t want to be compared to her.

“Lady Yang.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you returning to the Fifth Bureau tonight?”

Yang Wan rolled down the sleeves on her arms and replied: “I won’t go back. I’ll keep watch over Her Highness tonight. You all haven’t rested well for several nights. While I’m here, go get some early rest.”

“Ah.”

Heyu sighed, “You never say you’re tired, how dare we claim to be tired? However, you staying with Her Highness can comfort her better – much better than us servants who have mouths but no tongue. I’ll go get you a blanket, the nights are still cold.”

“Alright.”

After speaking, Yang Wan walked around the brocade screen into the inner chamber.

Warm smoke flowed from the gilt beast-head incense burner.

The bed curtains hung before her. Opposite the bed was placed a rosewood incense table, with a single white porcelain vase sparsely arranged with pine branches on top. Though these were all cold and austere items, looking at them didn’t make one feel chilly.

Consort Ning seemed to be sleeping soundly, only occasionally coughing once or twice.

Yang Wan sat in the round chair beside the incense table, moved the lamp closer to illuminate her lap, and opened her notebook.

Her notes had stopped on the day she parted from Deng Ying at the Inner Study.

There was no follow-up to the Liuli Factory case.

Between the words “Office of Ceremonies” and “Grand Secretariat,” Yang Wan drew a little figure of Deng Ying, but after finishing she thought it looked ugly and was about to dip her brush in ink to cover it when she suddenly heard Consort Ning coughing severely.

She hurriedly put down her things, got up and walked to the couch, raised the bed curtain with her hand, and bent down to ask: “Would Your Highness like some tea?”

Consort Ning sat up and waved her hand.

“I saw you sitting under the lamp lost in thought, and wanted to tell you to put on some clothes.”

Yang Wan casually grabbed a padded jacket hanging on the wooden rack and put it on brought the lamp closer and sat sideways on the edge of the couch.

“This is fine now, Your Highness should be the one careful not to catch a cold.”

Consort Ning watched her put on her clothes and couldn’t help but shake her head with a smile: “What kind of protocol is this, you’re still a palace servant of the Department of Ceremonies.”

Then she added, “But… really, seeing you like this makes me feel a bit like we’re at home.”

Yang Wan tucked the blanket around her.

“If we were at home, Your Highness would tell this servant what’s on her mind.”

Consort Ning was startled.

“You… noticed?”

“It was Heyu who noticed, I’m too stupid to know such things.”

Consort Ning touched Yang Wan’s forehead, “Sister is fine. You’re busy with affairs at the Department of Ceremonies, don’t think too much.”

“Why should I busy myself with her affairs?”

“These words of yours…”

Yang Wan looked up and interrupted her: “Although Your Highness will say I don’t understand when I speak like this, I know that hearing such words makes Your Highness happy.”

Consort Ning paused, her fingers slowly sliding down Yang Wan’s cheek to rest on her knee. She lowered her head and smiled, “You see right through people.”

She then changed the subject, holding Yang Wan’s hand, “What were you thinking about just now, so lost in thought?”

“I…”

Yang Wan glanced at her notebook hastily left on the round chair.

Consort Ning followed her gaze and couldn’t help saying: “I’ve seen you writing in that notebook more than once. What do you write in it?”

Yang Wan pressed her lips together without making a sound.

Consort Ning waited for a while, and seeing she had no intention of answering, said softly: “See, you won’t even tell sister about your concerns.”

Yang Wan fidgeted with her fingers, “Your Highness, this matter actually shouldn’t be done at this time, but…”

“Is it related to Supervisor Deng?”

Yang Wan didn’t deny it. “Mm, Your Highness will scold me again.”

“No.”

Consort Ning patted the back of her hand, “What you just said was very interesting. Everyone can speak of principles, and everyone claims to have others’ best interests at heart, but life is short – one should indeed listen to words they like to hear and do things they like to do. Sister is a consort in the back palace, not as free as you, and must speak formally. You only need to know your sister’s heart for you. Do whatever you want to do – while sister is here for a day, she’ll protect you for a day. If someday sister is gone, there’s still Yilang. Wan’er, don’t be afraid.”

After hearing this passage, Yang Wan felt somewhat terrified when she thought it through carefully.

Different concepts between ancient and modern times, though they seem to have a great gulf between them – such as women’s groups moving from silence to voice, and democratic consciousness awakening from deep sleep – have undergone thousands of years of evolution. People of the past absolutely cannot speak directly to people of the present, so do people dare to imagine that piercing sensation of worldviews being penetrated when people from two different eras communicate directly?

After all, history has walls of time as boundaries, but human nature can communicate through the cracks.

Yang Wan felt that beyond blood ties, this woman living in the Ming Dynasty had given her something that would be called “female friendship” in modern times.

It was just… magical?

“Mm… speaking of Deng Ying, there’s something sister needs to tell you.”

Consort Ning’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Please speak, Your Highness.”

“Deng Ying hasn’t been in the palace these past few days.”

“Not in the palace?”

“Correct.”

Yang Wan hurriedly asked: “How does sister know?”

Consort Ning’s gaze darkened, “At Yangxin Hall, I happened to hear Lord He from the Office of Ceremonies reporting to His Majesty that the Ministry of Justice had taken Deng Ying away, but sister cannot ask why.”

Yang Wan lowered her head, “I…”

“You want to ask brother?”

Yang Wan was startled, then smiled and said: “Brother probably won’t see me.”

Consort Ning shook her head and said with a smile: “It’s alright. Sister will help you.”

The next day at the Grand Secretariat meeting.

Yang Wan walked along the palace path holding Yilang’s hand.

As they walked, she bent down to ask Yilang, “What did Her Highness tell Your Highness before having you come with me?”

Yilang looked up, “Mother said that if uncle won’t speak properly with an aunt, I should stop him and not let him leave.”

“What?”

Yang Wan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Seeing her laugh, Yilang swung her arm as they walked, “Aunt, you look the prettiest when you laugh.”

Yang Wan crouched down and picked him up in one motion, “Your Highness is so young yet already knows how to make us servants happy.”

Yilang hugged Yang Wan’s neck.

“No, aunt and mother are just the most beautiful people in the palace.”

“Ha, you just want to see this servant become small, don’t you?”

Just as she finished speaking, the sound of footsteps came from Huiji Gate.

Yang Wan held Yilang and looked up at the gate.

Young Supervising Secretaries from the Six Ministries were walking out of Huiji Gate, and Yang Lun was among this group, arguing something heatedly with a flushed face and ears. Upon seeing Yang Wan and Yilang, he hurriedly bid farewell to the others and walked quickly toward them.

Yang Wan put Yilang down and gave Yang Lun a ceremonial greeting.

“Lord Yang.”

Yang Lun didn’t acknowledge Yang Wan, but lifted his robes and knelt to pay respects to Yilang, “This subject greets Your Highness.”

“Lord Yang, please rise.”

Yang Wan watched this scene before her and found it somewhat interesting.

Though a child’s natural disposition is hard to restrain, one could see he had his understanding of the great ceremony between ruler and subject.

Yang Lun stood up and was about to speak when he heard Yilang say: “Aunt has something to ask Lord Yang.”

Yang Lun’s neck stiffened as he looked at Yang Wan in surprise.

“You’re too presumptuous, even daring to use His Highness to…”

“Lord Yang!”

Yang Lun nearly bit his tongue and had to stop, bowing deeply.

“This subject is here.”

“You must not be fierce with aunt.”

Yang Wan couldn’t help but burst out laughing, making Yang Lun’s face instantly turn several colors.

Yilang didn’t understand what Yang Wan was laughing at, but single-mindedly protected her, looking sternly at Yang Lun with his small face:

“Lord, rise.”

“Yes…”

Yang Lun stood straight, shooting a glance at Yang Wan.

Yang Wan took a small step back, “Don’t look at me like that. I’m just a servant, how would I dare tell His Highness anything?”

Yang Lun’s face alternately flushed and paled as he adjusted his official hat and said formally: “Ask. I cannot speak privately with you for long.”

“Alright. I’ll ask directly – is Deng Ying at the Ministry of Justice?”

“You!”

Yang Lun was about to curse but saw Yilang glaring at him angrily, so he had to bite his teeth and swallow, lowering his voice: “I see you’ve gone mad. I can’t control if you want to be intimate with this person. But you’re now in the inner court – state affairs are not for you to inquire about.”

“Brother’s words are quite wrong.”

Yang Wan responded without courtesy, “Deng Ying is also a person of the inner court. Didn’t you say if you implicate him, then implicate him? The inner court is His Majesty’s inner court, and the state court is His Majesty’s state court – the accounts are all mixed together, can they be separated?”

“Yang Wan!”

“Brother needn’t scold me, I’m not brainless either. I only say these words before brother – elsewhere I wouldn’t dare open my mouth. I just want to tell Brother that if you want to detain and interrogate Deng Ying for the Liuli Factory case, it’s useless. You won’t get anything out of him, you’ll only torture him needlessly.”

As she spoke, she slightly narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to look into Yang Lun’s eyes, “I’ve always wanted to ask you something – watching them torture Deng Ying with your eyes wide open, doesn’t your heart ache?”

“…”

Yang Lun was speechless.

Yang Wan let go of Yilang’s hand and walked a few steps closer to Yang Lun, “I’m not saying this because I’ve gone mad wanting to be with Deng Ying, as you all think. I also understand that my brother is working for the good of the court and the common people. Yes, the corrupt problem of eunuchs needs to be rooted out, but the brother must also see who is in power, and whether he now has that determination. Throughout history, there have been many who served as the first firecracker – brothers should still protect themselves. Our Yang family’s generation is declining, the younger brother is still in school, and the only brother is in court… Brother must have heard, His Majesty has newly appointed a Noble Lady, and during this time Her Highness’s health is very poor… Brother is our only support outside the palace. Brother must take care of himself, so we can be safe.”