The next day, the Imperial Pharmacy at Huiji Gate sent a physician over.

Since Yang Wan was a female official, palace rules required examining patients behind a screen.

The Eastern Depot’s guards watched so intensely that they practically wanted to blindfold the physician. The physician was exasperated and threw down his medicine box, saying, “How am I supposed to examine her like this? Just let her heal on her own.”

He spoke with visible irritation, his mustache quivering.

Yang Wan, leaning on the couch, felt helpless but could only try to placate him: “Please don’t be angry, Sir. Just leave some medicine.”

The physician pressed his temples, then opened his medicine box and took out various bottles and jars. While checking them, he explained, “The most important things are to keep the wounds dry, avoid friction, and be extremely careful when sitting up or moving.”

Looking around at all the men standing far away, he sighed, “With injuries this severe, and no one to tend to her, how can she possibly recover well?”

Hearing this, one of the guards couldn’t help but snap, “Sir, you don’t know anything, so stop talking nonsense.”

The physician rolled his eyes. “What don’t I know?” As he packed up his medicine box and reached the door, he turned back with a snide remark: “Can any of you go in to tend to her?”

Not watching where he was going, he bumped right into Deng Ying as he finished speaking.

“Oh my, Superintendent…”

Though he had a proud temperament, being in Eastern Depot territory, he couldn’t help but feel intimidated after bumping into Deng Ying.

However, Deng Ying cupped his hands and bowed to him, “Deng Ying apologizes for his rudeness.”

Seeing his humility, the physician felt embarrassed and quickly returned the bow, “No matter, no matter.”

Deng Ying straightened up, glanced at the duty room, then respectfully asked, “May I ask, Sir, how are Record Keeper Yang’s injuries?”

“Ah.”

The physician leveled his voice, “I dare not offend, so I couldn’t examine too closely, but since they’re surface wounds, there’s no need to rush recovery.”

Deng Ying nodded in acknowledgment, then asked, “She had a high fever last night. When might it break?”

Hearing this, the physician understood why the guard had said “You don’t know anything” when he’d commented about Yang Wan having no one to tend to her. So it was this Eastern Depot official himself who was caring for the person inside. Thinking of this, he looked more carefully at Deng Ying, seeing him now dressed in casual clothes with sleeves half-rolled up, showing no hesitation as he checked the water about to boil on the stove in front of everyone. His voice was also very gentle as he said, “She doesn’t seem able to eat much, just drink some water.”

“Being able to drink water is good.”

At this point, the physician glanced at the guards behind Deng Ying. Seeing that they dared not speak while Deng Ying was present, he took the liberty of instructing Deng Ying as he would normally instruct palace servants: “The wounds are inflamed, so fever is inevitable. Apply the prescribed medicine properly three times a day, and don’t skip any oral medications. Her wounds are deep – avoid any friction if possible. With good care, by the day after tomorrow… the fever should break.”

“Yes, Deng Ying understands. Thank you, physician.”

After speaking, he bowed again before stepping aside to let the physician pass.

After Deng Ying straightened up, Qin Wende reported from behind him.

“Superintendent, Scribe Hu from the Directorate of Ceremonial came today.”

Deng Ying turned around, “About the imperial interrogation?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“He said the day after tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Deng Ying lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment, then bent to lift the water from the stove, saying softly, “Alright, I understand. Make arrangements according to the Directorate’s instructions.”

Qin Wende followed a step and asked, “Superintendent, will this case be transferred from the Northern Command to us?”

Deng Ying nodded, “That’s the idea, though this is just a special case within the inner court. The Eastern Depot still doesn’t have regular interrogation authority.”

“This subordinate understands.”

At this time, Yang Wan had just put on her lined robe and was supporting herself to sit up on the couch. She pulled back half the blanket and pushed her silk pants down to her knees, intending to apply medicine to herself.

Compared to the wounds on her waist and abdomen, although the injuries on her legs were severe, Yang Wan could at least see them, making it easier to apply medicine. Just as she was reaching for the bottles the physician had left on the table, the door lock rattled. Yang Wan looked up at the door, hurriedly trying to pull back under the blanket, but this pulled at her wounds. The pain made her lose strength, and her body tilted, falling from the couch.

Deng Ying quickly closed the door, crouched down to lift Yang Wan from the ground, and called out, “Lock the door.”

Then he added, “Hold onto my shoulders.”

Yang Wan was breathing hard from the pain but still instinctively reached to grab her silk pants that were sliding down her knees.

Deng Ying glanced down at her hand, “Wait, I’ll help you.”

Yang Wan’s ears turned red, but she didn’t dare move carelessly. She quietly withdrew her hand and grabbed the sash at Deng Ying’s waist, “Did you see…”

“What?”

Yang Wan looked up and saw him pressing his lips together slightly.

“I…”

“I saw.”

Afraid she would shame herself by saying it, he quickly acknowledged it, then gently carried Yang Wan back to the couch. Supporting her waist, he helped lift her lower body to pull up the silk pants that had slipped almost to her ankles. The silk fabric rubbed against her wounds, making Yang Wan furrow her brows. Seeing her discomfort, Deng Ying had to lighten his touch, “Does it hurt?”

“If you do it quickly, it won’t hurt as much.”

Deng Ying withdrew his hands and stood stiffly in front of Yang Wan, “I can’t let Song Yunqing come…”

“I know. It’s probably better that she can’t come. She doesn’t have your good temperament – who knows how she’d scold me if she saw me like this.”

Yang Wan interrupted him, partly to comfort him as well.

Deng Ying didn’t continue, instead reaching for the medicine bottles the physician had left, silently reading the labels.

“What are you thinking about?”

Yang Wan watched him from the couch.

She was still feverish, her face flushed and eyes somewhat moist.

“Just now, I…”

“Don’t apologize, Deng Ying.”

She interrupted him again, looking at his profile and speaking softly, “Though I feel embarrassed, I’m not humiliated. I asked you earlier because I didn’t want you to keep it in your heart, and then go off alone thinking about those frightening things you said in front of Yang Lun.”

She gently revealed Deng Ying’s concerns, leaving him speechless. He could only silently nod.

Yang Wan looked at the medicine bottle in his hand, “I can apply medicine to the wounds on my legs myself, but I can’t see the ones on my waist and ribs. I’m sorry, I know you’re unwilling, but I have no one else to ask.”

Indeed, there was no one else who could help Yang Wan here.

Palace servants couldn’t have private contact with Yang Wan, and the guards outside were all men. Only Deng Ying himself was a eunuch.

Everything seemed arranged to expose the “desire” he had hidden in his heart, but it also seemed to build a high execution platform where Yang Lun, Consort Ning, Yi Lang, and even Bai Huan and Zhang Zhanchun all stood below watching him. His shame had nowhere to hide.

In his life until now, he could face most people with a clear conscience, but before Yang Wan, he felt that only by having a guilty conscience could he continue to live.

“Wan Wan.”

Deng Ying called to Yang Wan, his hands squeezing his knees, then bent down to lift her inner garment at the waist and abdomen, gently holding it with his wrist.

Yang Wan felt his warm breath on her skin and was about to respond when Deng Ying continued: “I will remember these days in my heart, but after you leave, please forget about it.”

“Why should I forget?”

Deng Ying warmed the medicine in his palm before gently applying it to her wounds.

“If you don’t forget, how can I face myself?”

Hearing this, Yang Wan fell silent but shook her head while watching Deng Ying.

Dozens of lash marks, some two or three inches long, others stretching from ribs to navel.

Yang Wan stared at the bed frame, trying to distract herself, pressing her lips together to endure.

Only when Deng Ying straightened up and tucked in her blanket did she release her lips and let out a long breath.

Deng Ying stood with his back turned at the table, cleaning the blood stains from the medicine bottles and cloths. Qin Wende, standing by the window, said, “Superintendent, people from the Northern Command have arrived. There’s a court hearing today, they request your presence.”

Deng Ying looked at the disturbing bloodstains near his hand, then suddenly said in a deep voice, “Let the Northern Command wait.”

Qin Wende rarely heard Deng Ying speak like this. He was stunned for a moment, then felt pleased.

“Yes, this subordinate will let them wait properly.”

“How is Scribe Zheng doing?”

Yang Wan, having recovered somewhat, leaned on the couch and softly asked Deng Ying.

Deng Ying replied, “Don’t think too much about it.”

Yang Wan shook her head, “How many court hearings has it been?”

“Three times now.”

“The previous times… was torture used?”

When she said the word “torture,” her shoulders trembled involuntarily.

“Not the first time, the second time… the injuries weren’t too severe. Don’t think about his situation now. Tomorrow His Majesty will personally interrogate you. What you say affects not only yourself and the entire Chengrong Palace but also over a hundred land reform officials in the south, including Lord Yang.”

Yang Wan swallowed and lowered her head, saying, “I understand, I’ll be careful.”

She looked up at Deng Ying, “Deng Ying, are you trying to use this opportunity to take over the Northern Command’s interrogation and detention authority?”

“I’ve been thinking about it, but I haven’t figured it out yet.”

“It’s alright…”

Yang Wan clasped her hands together under the blanket, “I’ll think carefully about how to answer His Majesty tomorrow.”

Deng Ying said, “His Majesty is different from Zhang Luo. He won’t torture you, but… he holds everyone’s lives in his hands. However, you’ve always been better than me at reading His Majesty’s mind. I have no advice to give you now, except one thing: take care of yourself, don’t think about trying to save anyone.”

Hearing this, Yang Wan pressed, “Did Scribe Zheng say something to you?”

Deng Ying lowered his eyes without speaking.

“Tell me…”

Yang Wan struggled to sit up, and Deng Ying hurried to support her. “The Hejü case hasn’t been simple since the moment you entered the imperial prison. If Consort Ning is found guilty, Yang Lun must be immediately escorted back to the capital, and the southern land reforms must be suspended. What you and the Chengrong Palace need to do now is distance yourselves from Scribe Zheng – you can’t have any thought of saving him.”

“I know, I won’t be rash, but Consort Ning…”

Yang Wan gripped the blanket, “Consort Ning will be heartbroken.”

Deng Ying sighed, looked down at Yang Wan, hesitated for a while, then still asked softly.

“Is it true?”

“What…”

“That Consort Ning and Scribe Zheng were old acquaintances.”

Yang Wan nodded.

“It’s true. I once helped the Consort save him outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation. You remember he came to thank me, right?”

“Yes.”

“That was when I first learned about the connection between the Consort and Scribe Zheng. They weren’t just acquaintances – they were in love when they were young. Later, in all these years in the palace, though they saw each other, they never spoke, all to keep each other safe. That time at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, when His Majesty was going to beat Scribe Zheng to death, the Consort almost lost her composure. This time, since it involves Yang Lun, she might endure, but…”

Yang Wan’s throat choked up, unable to continue speaking.

Deng Ying sat with her.

Outside the window, the warm sun shone, and the shadow of a lone tree’s crown fell through the window screen onto Yang Wan’s shoes, then gradually crept up to Deng Ying’s knees.

In this patch of shadow, Deng Ying saw the same retribution that faced Zheng Yuejia, but he didn’t want to tell Yang Wan.