As Yang Wan had anticipated, the Ministry of Justice’s interrogation of Deng Ying had reached a stalemate.

Bai Yuyang sat in the rear hall of the Ministry of Justice, listening to the court official recite yesterday’s testimony. Seated with him were Qi Huaiyang, the Right Vice Minister of Justice, and two Investigating Censors from the Censorate. The table in the hall was clean, with white porcelain cups holding weak tea that had been steeped three times and had long since lost its flavor.

Bai Yuyang waved for the court official to stop, pressed his forehead, and asked Qi Huaiyang, “Is Official Yang coming today?”

Qi Huaiyang glanced at the sky outside and replied, “Minister, there’s a Grand Secretariat meeting today. Yang Lun has a reputation in the Six Offices, so he naturally went there with Grand Secretary Bai.”

Bai Yuyang let out a laugh, “I think he’s avoiding that servant. Yesterday was the fourth court hearing, even with Vice Minister Zhang present, yet he claimed illness.”

Qi Huaiyang took a sip of the cold tea and set down the case files, saying indifferently, “That’s human nature. However, this questioning has indeed become troublesome.”

Bai Yuyang nodded. “Yes, the Imperial Household Department is asking questions, I know.”

“Indeed. After all, Deng Ying is the Assistant Director of the Imperial Household Department. Minister, as you can see, we can’t imprison him. These past few days, we’ve had to have the Prison Office find temporary holding places. Wang Changshun bit his tongue and died in the imperial prison, and the Imperial Household Department immediately sent Hu Xiang personally to investigate. When the Liuli Factory starts operating again, that pile of tiles and wood at the Hall of Supreme Harmony still needs his oversight.”

“Alright… say no more.” Bai Yuyang gestured for him to stop. “I know all of this, but look here.” He shook the testimony papers with a rustling sound. “It’s flawless, isn’t it? What kind of craftsmanship is this? It seems Deng Ying has been cultivating this scheme since ten years ago. The accounts are so well-covered, that I want to applaud the Imperial Household Department. How are we supposed to continue this investigation?”

Qi Huaiyang said, “It depends on whether we want to move against this person.”

“What do you mean?”

“Torture.”

The two Censors present exchanged glances but remained silent.

Bai Yuyang fingered the edge of the testimony papers. “I’ve considered it, but once we use torture, we must make him reveal something. If he doesn’t…”

He looked up and scanned the people in the hall. “Then we’ll be in trouble.”

Everyone present fell into silence.

Soon after, footsteps were heard outside, and as the door opened, a tall shadow stretched across the floor.

Yang Lun strode in.

He hadn’t changed out of his official robes, his shoulders were damp, and he carried the scent of rain.

Bai Yuyang put away the testimony and looked outside, “Vice Minister Yang, is it raining?”

Yang Lun patted the water off himself, “Just started.”

After speaking, he bowed to Bai Yuyang and continued, “My household was slow in delivering the message, keeping the officials waiting.”

Bai Yuyang said, “Now that you’re here, take a seat. Someone bring a chair for Official Yang.”

Yang Lun adjusted his robe and sat down. “I heard His Majesty ordered me to attend the hearing because of Minister Bai’s memorial.”

“Yes.” Bai Yuyang turned to look at him. “Since this involves the Ministry of Revenue, having you here will help us question more thoroughly.”

Yang Lun looked outside where dark clouds churned like ink, and rain hammered against the courtyard trees with crackling sounds.

“Which round is this today?”

“The fifth round. Everything we’ve learned is here, take a look.”

Yang Lun had just opened the first page when Bai Yuyang said, “Bring in the person. We won’t move to the main hall. Official Qi, please record the case. Official Yang and I will conduct the questioning together.”

The sound of rain hitting broad leaves was soon broken by the sound of shoes splashing through water.

Yang Lun looked up from the testimony.

Through the dim rain, Deng Ying held his umbrella, walking behind several yamen runners.

Wearing a gray cross-collared robe, he appeared even thinner than during their social gatherings last year.

He lowered his umbrella at the door, lifted his robe, and entered the hall with a bow.

This was Yang Lun’s first time seeing Deng Ying since Deng Yi’s downfall.

If not for Yang Wan’s words at the palace gate today, he might have come even later.

Deng Ying didn’t look at Yang Lun.

He stood quietly before Bai Yuyang, hands lowered, waiting to be questioned.

Bai Yuyang glanced at Yang Lun, “Official Yang, regarding the silver for the fine bricks from Shandong, please question him again.”

Yang Lun looked at Deng Ying.

He had turned sideways to face him, but kept his eyes downcast, as if deliberately maintaining an air of humility before him.

Yang Lun suddenly understood what Yang Wan had said to him: “Watching them torment Deng Ying, doesn’t it pain your heart?”

“There’s nothing to ask.”

He averted his gaze from Deng Ying. “He’s already answered very clearly here.”

“You believe it?”

Yang Lun looked back at the testimony in his hands, and after a long moment, forced out a “Yes” through clenched teeth.

Bai Yuyang said, “If we conclude the investigation like this, it won’t pass the Censorate’s scrutiny.”

He took the testimony from Yang Lun’s hands. “Such clean testimony, such pristine accounts, you dare endorse this for the Ministry of Revenue? So where did the embezzled funds from these decades go? All to Deng Yi’s hometown? I see that even after confiscating everything from his family, it barely covered the military expenses for the northern border. Where did the rest of the silver go? Which river did it flow into?”

Yang Lun lowered his head and coughed once, “What is Minister Bai’s opinion?”

Bai Yuyang said coldly, “Today I want to hear Official Yang’s opinion.”

“My opinion is to release him first.”

Bai Yuyang suddenly raised his voice, “My opinion is to continue questioning in a different location. We don’t need to ask about anything else, just this Shandong matter. Let’s examine it thoroughly, scrutinize every detail until we get to the truth.”

After hearing this, Yang Lun stood up abruptly, “Then let Minister Bai question him. The Ministry of Revenue has monthly settlements, and the officials below are still waiting for last year’s silver deficit. Yang Lun truly cannot spare more time. I have reviewed today’s testimony, if Minister Bai has further questions, simply send someone to summon Yang Lun.”

“Wait.”

Qi Huaiyang also stood up, trying to mediate: “Official Yang, there’s no need for this. We all hope to investigate this matter thoroughly, as it concerns the nation’s livelihood. Minister Bai’s earnest intention, even if it hurts your fellowship with a fellow scholar, shouldn’t let him suffer unjust accusations here.”

This was both a warning and a reminder.

However, Yang Lun merely glanced at him before turning to leave.

“Official Yang.”

Deng Ying’s voice suddenly came from behind.

Yang Lun turned back to see him bowing deeply, “Deng Ying has a few words to say to Official Yang.”

He then added, “Minister Bai, may Deng Ying speak privately with Official Yang?”

Bai Yuyang and Qi Huaiyang exchanged glances.

“You may. Accompany Official Yang for a few steps.”

“Yes.”

Outside, the rain continued. Yang Lun walked ahead with his hands behind his back, while Deng Ying followed a step behind.

Neither held umbrellas, and they walked in silence for quite a distance until they reached the main entrance of the Ministry of Justice, where Yang Lun finally stopped.

“What did you want to tell me?”

Deng Ying stood in the rain, his thin gray robe now clinging to his skin.

Yang Lun had heard that men who underwent castration would change in appearance, but Deng Ying hadn’t – he had only grown paler, his former humility now tinged with a hint of submission that came from accepting his status.

“They want you to torture me.”

“Hmph.”

“You should listen to them.”

Yang Lun turned around, “Let me ask you if I torture you, will you tell the truth?”

“No.”

The answer came almost instantly.

“So, the Imperial Household Department people did embezzle quite a bit, didn’t they?”

Deng Ying raised his head in the rain, “Yes.”

“Why are you protecting them?”

Deng Ying suddenly coughed several times, “It’s not Deng Ying’s wish.”

“What nonsense is this?”

“Sir, you need to understand something. The Imperial Household Department has indeed embezzled much of the court’s silver these past ten years, but most of these funds went to the imperial clan. His Majesty won’t move against He Yixian for now. If you and your teacher…” He suddenly remembered what Bai Huan had told him and quickly corrected himself, “If you and Grand Secretary Bai try to use the deficits from the Liuli Factory and the Three Great Halls to contend with the Imperial Household Department, at best it will damage the imperial family’s face, at worst both your and Grand Secretary Bai’s political futures will be cut short.”

After listening quietly to this speech, Yang Lun suddenly asked, “Did you teach these things to Yang Wan in the palace?”

“What?”

Yang Lun crossed his arms, “Yang Wan said similar things to me today.”

“Yang Wan…”

“Silence!”

Yang Lun suddenly shouted, “Who gave you permission to speak her name?”

Deng Ying closed his mouth and bowed with lowered eyes, “Yes, Deng Ying knows his fault.”

Yang Lun stared at him silently, gradually clenching his fists.

“Let me ask you when Yang Wan was at home before, was there anything between you two?”

Hearing this question, Deng Ying looked at the noisy water flowing in the rain and smiled bitterly, “I didn’t even know her name.”

“What about now?”

Yang Lun stepped closer to him, “Now in the palace, is there anything between you two?”

Deng Ying raised his head, a self-mocking smile on his face, “How would I dare?”

After speaking, he gently gripped his wrist, “I know what my status is in this dynasty. I swear, if I have even a hint of disrespectful thoughts toward her, may I die by lingchi.”

“I don’t want to hear these things.”

Yang Lun turned his back, “I just want to tell you, she is my sister. I can’t scold her for following you. But she will eventually leave the palace and marry into a good family. My sister, Yang Lun’s sister, can take her time choosing in this vast capital.”

These words fell into the rain, startling several small birds hiding in the leaves. Soaked by the rain, they couldn’t fly and tumbled trembling to Deng Ying’s feet.

Yang Lun and Deng Ying both looked down, temporarily silent.

After a long while, Yang Lun finally spoke, “You know? Hearing you just now, considering things for me and my teacher, I feel sick. I don’t know what’s wrong with Yang Wan, that she knows how you think. She just…”

Yang Lun shook his head, grinding his teeth.

“Doesn’t she feel hurt?”

After receiving these words, Deng Ying said softly, “Why say such things to me?”

“No reason! Just wanted to say it!”

Yang Lun suddenly raised his voice, “Deng Fuling, I truly hate that you’ve become like this. How are my teacher and I supposed to face this!”

His voice echoed in the rain.

The response that came back sounded desperate but still retained a trace of warmth.

“Then you should consider Fuling dead.”