Deng Ying stood up and walked behind Yang Wan, following her gaze behind the screen. “I know who wrote ‘Five Virtuous Consorts.'”

Yang Wan turned back, “Who?”

Deng Ying looked down at her, “You know him too—your brother Yang Jing.”

“What?”

Yang Wan nearly failed to control her voice when she heard Yang Jing’s name. “Wasn’t it written by Du Heng?”

Deng Ying looked down at her, “You mean Du Heng from the Hanlin Academy?”

Yang Wan asked puzzled, “Is there another Du Heng?”

Deng Ying shook his head, “That man has been seriously ill and left the academy over a month ago, but ‘Five Virtuous Consorts’ was written at the end of last month. The whole piece isn’t long; the writer took about ten days. Why did you mention Du Heng?”

How should she answer?

Should she tell him the historical records didn’t match reality?

Yang Wan was deeply shocked, unconsciously gripping the edge of the screen.

How difficult historical research truly was—she had been immersed in it for ten years and had already experienced countless hardships.

When she first began writing notes about the Zhenning era, she had built a framework, yet in just two short years, she found countless holes in that framework. Things erased by those in power, things altered by later generations—they were innumerable. Looking at it this way, though the documents that survived to modern times were extremely precious, there weren’t many trustworthy words among them.

“Eh… madam.”

The shopkeeper had returned after seeing someone off. Seeing Yang Wan lost in thought by the screen, he tried to call out to her but was stopped by Deng Ying, “Speak to me.”

“Oh… yes, yes, speaking to you is the same. I went to look for the printing blocks Madam mentioned earlier. They’re still there. I’ll have someone bring them out for madam to see.”

“Good.”

Deng Ying glanced at the door, smoothly changing the topic, “I thought I heard that Qingbo House is going to print ‘Five Virtuous Consorts.'”

Hearing this question, the shopkeeper hesitated slightly, “Well…”

Yang Wan picked up Deng Ying’s thread, “Kuanqin Hall is also printing ‘Five Virtuous Consorts.’ Though your versions are different, you’re selling them at the same time—what profit is there in that?”

Hearing her question, the shopkeeper dared not answer anymore. He stepped back several paces, carefully looking them up and down.

“Who… exactly… are you people?”

Yang Wan folded her arms, raising an eyebrow, “We’re from the Northern Patrol Commission.”

“Wh-wh-what?”

The shopkeeper’s face turned white.

Yang Wan was completely unconcerned about her blatant lie, “You don’t believe me?”

She pointed outside, “You can step out right now, but once you’re through that door, you’ll just be interrogated somewhere else.”

Hearing her words, the shopkeeper tremblingly looked outside.

The book market for Shuntian Prefecture’s spring examinations was extremely busy at this time. Yang Wan knocked on the screen, gave a cold laugh, and started walking out.

The shopkeeper hurriedly fell to his knees with a “thud,” “Please, officers, give me a way out. Our proprietor went south to visit relatives and hasn’t returned. I… I’m truly terrified.”

Yang Wan stopped walking, and Deng Ying smoothly said, “Take us inside to talk.”

“Yes… I’ll take you officers in right away.”

Behind Qingbo House was the printing factory. The shopkeeper led Yang Wan and Deng Ying into the inner hall of the factory, personally closed the hall doors, and not daring to remain standing, fell to his knees trembling, “Officers, please ask your questions.”

Yang Wan said, “Who was that person who just left?”

“Oh, I saw his pass—he’s someone from the palace.”

“Which palace?”

“He said Chengqian Palace.”

Yang Wan’s brow furrowed, “Chengqian Palace?”

The shopkeeper’s shoulders began trembling in fear, “Yes… he… he said so.”

Deng Ying asked, “What did he discuss with you?”

The shopkeeper hurriedly said, “I dare not deceive you. He said the lady of Chengqian Palace has been unwell recently and recuperating in the Banana Garden. She wants to do some virtuous deeds to educate worldly women, so she wants to write a preface for ‘Five Virtuous Consorts.’ Officer, didn’t you just ask what profit there was for Qingbo House? This is a precious consort from the palace personally writing a preface! How could Kuanqin Hall’s version compare to our Qingbo House edition? With the consort’s preface, this becomes ‘Six Virtuous Consorts’! We’re not worried about being outsold by Kuanqin Hall.”

Deng Ying said, “Bring that preface here.”

The shopkeeper didn’t dare delay for a moment, frantically fetching the preface.

Deng Ying took it and opened it, saying softly to Yang Wan, “Look at the handwriting.”

Yang Wan quickly scanned the preface in Deng Ying’s hands. The writing was neat, but it wasn’t Consort Ning’s handwriting.

Yang Wan withdrew her gaze, pressed her lips together, pinched her tiger’s mouth point, and stepped back into the shadows, trying to process this matter from beginning to end as quickly as possible in her mind.

On the surface, Yang Jing wrote “Five Virtuous Consorts” to praise the virtuous deeds of imperial consorts, with Consort Ning writing a preface from imprisonment—once this version of “Five Virtuous Consorts” circulated in the capital, what direction would court opinion take?

Yang Wan remembered how in the previous dynasty, an official surnamed Hu had petitioned the former emperor to treat the then-ill and neglected empress well. She felt a chill down her spine.

But this situation was different from that truly ill empress.

Though the Banana Garden was nominally a place for Consort Ning’s recuperation, it was Emperor Zhenning’s prison for his discarded consort. Since it was a prison, Consort Ning absolutely could not have sent this preface out of the palace. Others might not understand this, but Emperor Zhenning himself knew clearly.

Therefore, in Emperor Zhenning’s eyes, this was a fake preface.

Who would have the position to write such a preface on Consort Ning’s behalf while she was imprisoned and connect it with “Five Virtuous Consorts” for publication?

Only Yang Lun.

The maliciousness and thoroughness of this scheme left Yang Wan completely puzzled—since when did Noble Consort Jiang have such a clever mind?

Seeing Yang Wan remaining silent, the shopkeeper was frightened and quickly shuffled forward on his knees.

“I’ve told everything. Please don’t take me to the Northern Patrol Commission… I have elderly parents and young children, over ten family members depending on me for food.”

Yang Wan released her lips in a laugh and helped the shopkeeper up, “Don’t worry, shopkeeper, this was just a misunderstanding. It’s a good thing that the palace consort has shown such virtue. Show us those printing blocks you mentioned earlier, then you can go back to business.”

The shopkeeper was still shaken but, hearing these words, felt as if granted a great pardon. He scrambled to his feet and went to find the blocks for Yang Wan.

Yang Wan supported Deng Ying as they left Qingbo House. The pain in his ankle had become unbearable.

Yang Wan helped Deng Ying into the carriage; his face had turned pale from pain.

Yang Wan used her sleeve to wipe Deng Ying’s sweat, “I’m sorry, I was so focused on figuring out that matter, I didn’t realize you were in such pain.”

Deng Ying shook his head, “Wanwan, you’re bold.”

“What?”

Deng Ying smiled, “Impersonating Imperial Guards—you did it without hesitation.”

Yang Wan lowered her head and smiled, then said sincerely, “Deng Ying, I think I’ve mostly figured it out.”

Deng Ying nodded, “So have I.”

Yang Wan said, “But there’s one thing I still want to ask you.”

“Ask.”

“Why would my brother write ‘Five Virtuous Consorts’ at this time?”

Deng Ying lowered his head and was silent for a while before answering Yang Wan, “He’s His Highness’s study companion. Since this involves the Hall of Literary Splendor, I need to start investigating from Vice Minister Zhang.”

Yang Wan said, “Zhang Cong?”

Deng Ying didn’t deny it, “Zhang Cong is the young prince’s teacher, and Zixi is the young prince’s uncle. The two men have different political views, and His Highness will eventually have to choose between them.”

This reminder struck Yang Wan.

“If this matter is related to Vice Minister Zhang, then I can understand why Noble Consort Jiang’s schemes have improved so much.”

“How so?”

“Zhang Cong and Noble Consort Jiang conspired to frame my sister, but in reality, Zhang Cong was using Noble Consort Jiang to frame Yang Lun.”

“There’s probably more to it.”

Deng Ying lifted his head and looked back at Qingbo House, “This is also a crime for Noble Consort Jiang. After Yang Lun is banished by His Majesty, he can also expose the Jiang family, removing this obstacle to the young prince from the second prince.”

Yang Wan lowered her eyes, “I want to use Zhang Luo.”

“Wanwan…”

“I know it’s a bit risky.”

Yang Wan interrupted him, “But I had already thought it through while we were in Qingbo House.”

She looked up, “Deng Ying, you just need to have someone watch Pang Ling and protect him when necessary. Don’t let him be silenced. Besides that, don’t let the Eastern Depot get involved in this matter.”

“What are you going to do?”

Yang Wan said, “Try to turn the tables. I don’t want to leave my sister’s child in Zhang Cong’s hands anymore.”

After saying this, she felt an inexplicable chill.

She couldn’t tell Deng Ying that she wanted to seek a chance of survival for the person before her through Yi Lang, but this child’s mental barriers had been built too perfectly by Zhang Cong. She still didn’t know where to tear an opening.

This was an opportunity, though Yang Wan still wasn’t confident. She might even completely anger Zhang Luo and get herself involved, but she wanted to try.

“How can I help you?”

Deng Ying’s question caught Yang Wan by surprise. She hurriedly said, “This isn’t the place to talk, and your foot injury is acting up badly. Let’s discuss it in detail when we get back.”

The weather changed quickly in late autumn. By the time Yang Wan and Deng Ying walked through Xuanwu Gate, clouds had gathered and wind had risen—it looked like rain was coming.

Li Yu was squatting at the door of Deng Ying’s quarters, holding clean clothes. He seemed to have waited for quite a while; his face had been turned white by the wind. Seeing Deng Ying and Yang Wan coming together, he promptly rolled his eyes.

“Superintendent Deng, didn’t we agree to go to the Mixed Court today? I’ve been squatting at your door until now… and…”

He glanced at Yang Wan, “I won’t believe either of you anymore.”

Yang Wan smiled, “Not believing him is one thing, but what do you mean by not believing me?”

Li Yu stood up, “My sister said you were moving out of the Fifth Office today, but when she went to find you, you weren’t there. Chengqian Palace is short-staffed now, and those depot guards are rough people making a mess of things. My sister couldn’t stand it, so after her shift, she went to Chengqian Palace to help look after things. She told me to tell you that you can’t stay there today!”

“Oh.”

Yang Wan smiled and responded.

Li Yu jumped up, “What do you mean ‘oh’? You can’t go back to the Fifth Office either. I’d like to see where you’ll sleep tonight.”

He had been annoyed from waiting, and now he was taking it out on Yang Wan. Having vented his frustration, he felt better and turned to Deng Ying, “Shall we go?”

“Alright, I’ll get my clothes.”

After speaking, Deng Ying tried to walk inside despite the pain, but his ankle hurt so much that after just one step, he had to stop and hold onto the doorframe.

Li Yu noticed something wrong with Deng Ying’s walk and quickly asked Yang Wan at the door, “Is his foot injury acting up again?”

Yang Wan held Deng Ying’s arm, made an “mm” sound, and said to Deng Ying, “Maybe you shouldn’t go today.”

Deng Ying shook his head, “It’s fine.”

Li Yu said, “Don’t try to persuade him. He taught us that one must always be clean. I know he never misses his bathing days, that’s why I’ve been waiting at his door.”

After speaking, he squatted down again with the clothes, pouting, “Superintendent, hurry up!”

Deng Ying responded with an “Alright.”

Yang Wan supported Deng Ying as they walked into his quarters.

Deng Ying released Yang Wan’s hand, “Sit down, I’ll have the depot guards take you back in a while.”

“I haven’t finished what I was saying earlier.”

Deng Ying opened the wooden cabinet, “Then wait for me to return.”

Yang Wan watched Deng Ying take out white silk undergarments from the cabinet, and suddenly said softly, “I can’t stay at Chengqian Palace today. Could you… let me lie down here for one night?”