“You don’t know what you’re saying when you just say ‘alright.'”

Yang Wan picked up the noodles and headed inside.

Deng Ying smiled and followed her, saying, “We can try. Your understanding of His Majesty’s thoughts has always been more accurate than ours.”

Yang Wan turned around and said seriously, “Deng Ying, do you dare trust my intuition in matters like this?”

Deng Ying replied, “It’s not about trusting your intuition. This matter already rests entirely on His Majesty’s whim. You were able to help Secretary Zheng and Consort Ning before, so if it’s your method, I’m willing to try.”

Yang Wan pressed her lips together in silence, and Deng Ying didn’t press her.

As the steam faded from the cooling noodles, Yang Wan finally spoke, looking up, “The daily questioning and today’s reprimand – His Majesty wants His Highness to fear his sovereign father. If you report that His Highness has fallen ill from anxiety due to the constant questioning, perhaps His Majesty will immediately pardon him. As long as His Majesty intends to protect his son, this case won’t implicate Yang Lun and can only be concluded quickly with Huang Ran. But… today you’re the one questioning, and if His Majesty takes offense, this will become another charge for court officials to condemn you with. I don’t know what will happen.”

Deng Ying looked at Yang Wan, “Master Yang told me that no matter what I do, the court will never accept me again. He didn’t need to tell me – I understand this in my heart. For me, seeing political clarity and the successful implementation of land reform is what I want to see, and… ensuring your safety above all.”

He finished speaking and picked up his bowl, taking a bite of noodles, “It’s getting cold. Hurry and take these inside. I’ll leave after I finish eating.”

Yang Wan wanted to ask Deng Ying how this matter would have ended if she hadn’t suggested this method.

But when this question entered her mind, it once again gave her the feeling that she wasn’t just some fish that had slipped through the net.

She sat beside Yi Lang’s couch holding the bowl of noodles and opened her notebook.

The blank space marking that turning point she couldn’t write before – now she seemed able to write it, but she had no way to put her name in the notes.

That night, Yi Lang, overcome with fear and anxiety, indeed developed a high fever. By late night he was delirious with fever, clutching Yang Wan’s sleeve and calling continuously for Consort Ning. Yang Wan tucked the blankets around him and went out, forcefully knocking on Wuying Hall’s door. The Imperial Guard at the door immediately blocked her, pressing his blade against her throat.

“Wait.”

Yang Wan looked toward the voice.

She saw Zhang Luo in the corridor raise his hand, walking toward her while gesturing for the guard to lower his weapon and step back.

He came to stand before Yang Wan, looking her up and down.

She looked much more disheveled than before, her dress stained with ash from the firewood, her hair coming loose – she appeared somewhat pitiful.

Zhang Luo withdrew his gaze, holding his sword, “Breaking into a restricted area at night is a capital offense. What do you want?”

Yang Wan bowed, “His Highness has a high fever that won’t break. Please summon the Imperial Physician.”

Hearing this, Zhang Luo jerked his chin at the guards at the door: “Go check.”

“Yes.”

Two men strode past Yang Wan, bringing a gust of cold air. They soon returned to report, “Sir, His Highness indeed has a severe fever.”

Zhang Luo ordered, “Go to Huiji Gate with my token and summon the physician on duty.”

Then he used his sword hilt to pin Yang Wan against the hall door, “The Eastern Depot man came today. What are you planning?”

Yang Wan pressed against the sword hilt, “Let go.”

Zhang Luo turned his face away darkly but pressed her even harder, “If I find out you’re using His Highness to manipulate me, I won’t let you off again.”

As Yang Wan desperately tried to break free, she inadvertently grabbed Zhang Luo’s fingers, and he suddenly yanked his hand back.

Yang Wan crouched by the door catching her breath, saying nothing. She stood up, pressing her shoulder, and walked back to Hengshou Chamber without looking back.

The physician on duty at Huiji Gate was Imperial Physician Peng. After examining Yi Lang, he told Yang Wan, “Cold has entered his lungs – it’s quite dangerous. I must report to Yangxin Hall immediately.”

Yang Wan stood up, “What can I do…”

The physician looked at Yi Lang’s complexion and turned back to say, “Keep His Highness well covered and keep the charcoal burning warm.”

“Alright…”

She finished speaking and forcefully patted her aching shoulder before crouching down to add more charcoal.

The Imperial Physician casually asked, “What happened to the female attendant’s hand?”

Yang Wan said “Oh,” then added, “I just bumped into something.”

Just as she finished speaking, Yi Lang called out hazily, “Aunt…”

Yang Wan quickly wiped her hands and sat beside him, “Are you awake?”

“Mm… Aunt, I dreamed of Master Huang and Uncle…”

“What did you dream about them?”

Yi Lang didn’t answer but reached out with his burning-hot hand to embrace Yang Wan. She simply wrapped him up and held him in her arms.

“When Your Highness sees His Majesty, you must not argue with him.”

Yi Lang nodded, “Yi Lang knows. I will beg Father Emperor’s forgiveness and not let Mother, Aunt, and Uncle worry anymore.”

“Good.”

Human sentiment seems to flow naturally – this child didn’t need Yang Wan to say much more; he seemed to understand most of it.

Yang Wan held Yi Lang’s burning body and softly coaxed him back to sleep.

Just as day was breaking, the edict from Yangxin Hall indeed arrived. Emperor Zhenning ordered Yi Lang to be returned to Chengqian Palace to recover. Consort Ning came personally with an umbrella to receive him. When Yi Lang saw her, although he was unwell, he didn’t cry.

After settling Yi Lang in Chengqian Palace, Consort Ning turned to see Yang Wan standing silently by the screen.

“Wan’er, we owe you much gratitude.”

Yang Wan shook her head and stood straight, looking at Yi Lang’s fever-flushed face.

“I didn’t take good care of him.”

Consort Ning followed her gaze, “Being able to return like this is already a great fortune.”

Yang Wan said, “Your Highness must have been worried.”

“Yes, but I didn’t dare say anything, fearing it would provoke His Majesty’s fury and cause the child more suffering, and worried it would implicate my brother.”

Yang Wan comforted her, “Now… it should be alright.”

Consort Ning led Yang Wan to sit behind the screen, “I hope so. Wan’er,” she hesitated for a moment, then continued with some uncertainty in her voice, “Would you… like to leave the palace?”

Yang Wan was startled, “Why does Your Highness ask this?”

Consort Ning said, “When you first entered the palace, you were such a lively spirit, but over this past year, sister feels you haven’t been as happy as before. If you’re willing, you could let Commander Deng set up a residence outside the palace. Living peacefully away from palace politics would be quite nice too.”

Yang Wan blurted out, “If I leave, what about Yi Lang?”

She was immediately shocked by her own words.

In saying this, she had already tacitly accepted that Consort Ning would not live much longer.

Hearing this, Consort Ning patted her hand, “He has his fate. He will be safe.”

As Yang Wan heard these words, she suddenly saw the shadow of a winter bird pass by the window.

It seemed to carry a sense of despair, trying to break through the void. Yang Wan deliberately avoided looking at it clearly, instead instinctively turning away.

On the tenth day of the first month of Zhenning’s thirteenth year, His Majesty personally visited Yi Lang in Chengqian Palace. Yang Wan and Song Yunqing stood outside Chengqian Gate, and at noon finally heard the contents of the imperial edict – Huang Ran was sentenced to execution, while the remaining instructors were to be tried by the Ministry of Justice.

When the Ministry of Justice sent people to receive them, each person was as joyful as if ascending from hell to heaven.

After taking over the case, the Ministry of Justice overturned most of the groundless charges from the prison investigations, concluding each matter quickly.

There was another edict issued to the inner court.

Dozens of imperial envoys who had questioned Yi Lang, including Deng Ying and Zhang Luo, were all sentenced to ten strokes of the rod.

Yang Wan next saw Deng Ying on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month, in the inner office of the Eastern Depot.

The inner office of the Eastern Depot was only two rooms wide.

The outer room was the main hall, while the inner room was the duty room.

The duty room had no decorations, only cramped with a low bed, three or four stools, and a table.

Deng Ying sat by the window reading Yang Lun’s “Land Reform Policy.” Two guards sat to the side shelling peanuts, and one asked, “What is the Commander reading? You’ve been at it for hours.”

The other said softly, “The Ministry of Revenue’s Land Reform Policy.”

“Southern land reform – my hometown’s fields will suffer.”

“Does your family have much land?”

That person waved his hand, “Fortunately not much. The people left at home don’t want to take care of it. If we could sell it, that would be fine.”

“That depends on the price.”

Just then they heard Deng Ying cough several times, and the speaker quickly stood up, “Commander, do you need water?”

Deng Ying put down the document and tried to stand, “I’ll get it myself.”

The man hurried over eagerly, “Let me serve you. If you hadn’t gone to Wuying Hall yourself that day, we would have been the ones suffering.”

“Shh–“

The other guard pulled at his clothes while looking toward the door.

The first man didn’t understand, “Don’t pull me, everyone knows our Commander is good, unlike those demons… oh… Lady Yang.”

He jumped up, brushing peanut shells from his clothes while pulling his companion out, and closing the door behind them.

Today Yang Wan wore a water-green wide-sleeved gown with a moon-white cloud-collar embroidered with auspicious patterns, her hair in a simple bun with a jade hairpin. She looked quite different from her usual palace attire.

“Why did you come here?”

Yang Wan adjusted her jade hairpin, “Chen Hua asked me to check how you’re doing, and if you’re better, to invite you to join them for hotpot the day after tomorrow.”

Deng Ying asked, “Why didn’t he come himself?”

“Oh, he was worried that if he came, it would look like he was currying favor with the Eastern Depot, so…”

“Would Director Song let him send you on errands?”

“You…”

Yang Wan watched Deng Ying sitting on the lamplight, analyzing so seriously, and suddenly had the urge to jump up and pinch his face.

“I asked him for the errand, alright?”

Deng Ying seemed to understand the meaning of these words, but reflexively said “Ah?”

“You…”

Yang Wan sat beside Deng Ying, “Do you believe…”

“Ouch…”

Yang Wan had accidentally touched his not-fully-healed wounds, and he couldn’t help but draw in a sharp breath.

Yang Wan quickly stood up, “Oh no, where did I touch?”

Deng Ying stiffened his neck without speaking, but instinctively used Yang Lun’s “Land Reform Policy” to cover his thigh. This action reminded Yang Wan of the first time she entered his quarters, when Deng Ying sat on the bed, just as stiffly holding up a book.

“Would you sit across from me?”

He said this while carefully changing his position, “Would you like some water?”

Yang Wan understood he was changing the subject and went along with it, “Yes.”

Deng Ying reached out to pour her a cup of tea, then poured one for himself.

“Is His Highness better?”

“Much better. Among everyone, your injuries are the most difficult to heal. I’m sorry, I gave you all bad advice and ended up harming you. If you’re feeling resentful…”

She held out her hand, “Do you want to hit back?”

Deng Ying shook his head with a smile and placed a jade bead carved with a hibiscus in Yang Wan’s palm, “For you.”

Yang Wan was startled, and heard him continue, “I carved it while recovering from my injuries. It’s also a centerpiece bead – you can string it with your other jade pendant. This is from some leftover jade when they replaced the beast eyes on Zhonghe Hall’s roof ornaments. The jade quality is good, but I’m not very skilled at carving jade, so some parts aren’t well done.”

Yang Wan held the bead up to the lamp. The bead wasn’t even half the size of a fingernail, yet it was intricately carved with hibiscus stamens and petals. Though jade is smooth, it’s more brittle and harder to carve than wood. When she was young and studied “The Story of the Carved Olive Pit,” she had only marveled at the ancients’ exquisite craftsmanship. Now holding such a finely crafted object in her hands, besides admiration, she felt the joy of receiving a gift.

“Truly a masterpiece of Ming craftsmanship.”