After shouting out what was in his heart, Yang Lun walked out of the Ministry of Justice feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
Not caring that Deng Ying walked slowly behind him, he strode forward, talking as he went: “Next time you come to the Ministry of Justice, don’t bother filling out those interrogation forms. I saw all that nonsense you were making up on them.”
Deng Ying replied, “I wasn’t making things up, that was a confession of guilt.”
“Making things up is making things up, what confession?”
Deng Ying couldn’t help but laugh, “Yang Zixi, are you helping me or harming me?”
Yang Lun turned back, “For my sister’s sake, I want to make things easier for you.”
“You didn’t need to upset Minister Bai that much though.”
Yang Lun waved his hand dismissively: “After so many years in officialdom, I know Bai Yuyang’s type, and he knows mine. Once his anger passes, it’s done. Don’t think too much about it.”
Deng Ying nodded with a smile and turned toward the Eastern Depot’s carriage.
The two got off at the East Peace Gate.
Seeing Yang Wan standing under the gate, Yang Lun didn’t even bother taking out his Cabinet credentials and turned to leave.
“Brother, what are you doing?”
Yang Lun stopped in his tracks and reluctantly turned back. Before Yang Wan could speak, he fired off words like a string of firecrackers.
“Let me tell you, Yang Wan, I only punched him once that day, and I didn’t even use much force. Besides, he deserved it. If you dare say one word about it today, I’ll immediately write a note to His Majesty and have him locked up in the Ministry of Justice tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Yang Wan was stunned for a long while before laughing.
“I wasn’t going to say anything about that.”
“Huh?”
Yang Lun was suddenly embarrassed.
But Yang Wan grabbed his arm firmly, “I want Deng Ying to hit you back.”
Then she called to Deng Ying, “Little Ying, come here and hit him.”
Standing in the wind, Deng Ying looked at Yang Lun’s awkward expression and said, “Wan-wan, if I strike a court official, I’ll be convicted of a crime.”
With Yang Wan twisting his arm, Yang Lun didn’t dare move. “Yang Wan, I’m your brother, surely you wouldn’t…”
Only then did Yang Wan release his arm, “Who told you to lay hands on him? The young prince’s temperament has improved so much lately, yet you’re still charging around like a big bull.”
Yang Lun’s face immediately reddened, “What did you call me?”
“Yang Big Bull!”
Yang Lun couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped toward Yang Wan, “Say that again.”
Yang Wan laughed, “Yang Big Bull is cute, isn’t it, Little Ying?”
She even made bull horns with her fingers at Yang Lun.
“You…”
Yang Lun was so choked up he couldn’t speak.
Deng Ying said, “It was my fault, stop quarreling.”
Yang Lun snapped at Deng Ying, “Quarrel with her? Do I have time for that?”
As he spoke, he stalked off toward the Huiji Gate with his neck stiff, not looking back.
Yang Wan watched Yang Lun’s retreating figure, unable to stop laughing.
Deng Ying said, “Only you, Wan-wan, would dare speak to him like that.”
Yang Wan continued laughing to herself, “He’s not as rigid as I thought.”
Then she turned to Deng Ying and asked, “Are you on duty at the Directorate of Ceremonial today?”
“Yes.”
“Then come to Chengqian Palace after your shift. I’ll have Heyu keep the side door open for you.”
When Deng Ying didn’t respond, Yang Wan added, “Don’t worry, His Highness wants to see you. Also, I have an idea that might help you and Minister Bai. Come by later, and I’ll explain in detail.”
That night, sure enough, a wind lantern was lit by the side door of Chengqian Palace.
Heyu stood at the door, and seeing Deng Ying walking with difficulty, moved to help him, but Deng Ying raised his hand to decline, climbing the steps himself.
Heyu said softly, “Imperial Physician Luo is inside taking His Highness’s pulse, and Lady Wan is there too. Let me guide you in, Supervisor.”
Deng Ying said, “I’ll wait outside for a while.”
Just as he finished speaking, the main door of the rear hall suddenly opened.
Deng Ying looked up to see Yi Lang standing alone in the doorway.
Deng Ying bowed deeply, the chains on his hands and feet clanking together as he moved, making a sound that embarrassed him.
Yi Lang accepted his bow and said evenly, “Rise and come in.”
Deng Ying straightened up and said, “This servant will wait to attend Your Highness in the study.”
Yi Lang said, “I’m not studying today.”
Then he turned and called inside, “Aunt, he won’t come in.”
Yang Wan walked out wiping her hands and smiled at Deng Ying, “You dare disobey His Highness now?”
She extended a hand to him, “Come.”
Deng Ying didn’t dare take it, instead looking toward Yi Lang.
Yi Lang stood at the door saying nothing.
Seeing Deng Ying not moving, Yang Wan simply took his arm and forcibly helped him up.
Inside the hall, four braziers of charcoal burned, making faces flush with warmth. Imperial Physician Luo from the Imperial Pharmacy stood before the screen, bowing to Yi Lang.
Yi Lang walked into the bright chamber with his hands behind his back, turned, and pointed to Deng Ying, “Look at his injuries.”
Deng Ying started, “Your Highness…”
Yi Lang pointed to the stool behind him, “Sit there.”
Then he fell silent, sitting in the chair opposite Deng Ying, looking down at the restraints on Deng Ying’s body.
Physician Luo washed his hands and walked to Deng Ying’s side, “Supervisor Deng, let me examine you.”
Deng Ying still tried to decline, “Sir, this isn’t proper.”
Physician Luo said, “Since His Highness has granted medicine, there’s nothing improper about it. You’ve been wearing these restraints for some time now. If the wounds aren’t treated and cleaned, and they damage your tendons and bones, affecting your foundation, even the greatest immortal couldn’t save you.”
Yang Wan said from the side, “Sit down, Deng Ying, it’s alright.”
Deng Ying still watched Yi Lang’s expression.
Yi Lang suddenly spoke, “Minister Deng, I want to grant you medicine, not because Aunt asked me to. I haven’t read the ‘Compassion’ chapter in vain. If Tang Taizong could grant medicine at soldiers’ sickbeds, today I too would emulate the ancient sages. If you still won’t sit, you’re being defiant.”
Yang Wan smiled at Yi Lang with curved eyebrows, then turned to help Deng Ying sit down.
Physician Luo rolled up Deng Ying’s sleeve, exposing his arm, and held it out to Yang Wan, “Lady Wan, please hold the Supervisor’s arm for me.” He turned back to take a silver needle from his medicine box, briefly passed it through a flame, then crouched down and said, “Supervisor Deng, this might hurt a bit. Please bear with it.”
Deng Ying nodded, “It’s fine, thank you for your trouble, sir.”
The wounds on Deng Ying’s wrists had broken skin, and blood had mixed with the shackles, forming scabs that stuck to them. As Physician Luo used the silver needle to separate the scabs, Deng Ying’s shoulders involuntarily trembled.
Physician Luo quickly paused and looked up, “It still hurts a lot, doesn’t it?”
Deng Ying remained silent.
Physician Luo said, “I heard that when Zhou Congshan died, the flesh of his wrists had stuck to these restraints. Even after they were unlocked, they couldn’t be removed. His family had no choice but to cut away all the flesh around them with a knife.”
Hearing this, Yi Lang couldn’t help but stand up and walk to Physician Luo’s side, looking down at Deng Ying’s wrists.
“Physician Luo.”
“Your servant is here.”
“If he continues like this, will he end up like Zhou Congshan?”
Physician Luo said, “With Your Highness’s mercy if we clean the wounds regularly, it will be better.”
“Oh.”
Yi Lang seemed lost in thought.
As he didn’t speak, the physician didn’t dare continue.
Yang Wan had to call him.
Only then did Yi Lang come back to himself and tell the physician, “Physician Luo, please continue.”
Deng Ying lowered his head, “Please, Your Highness, don’t look.”
Yang Wan also freed one hand to gesture to him, “Your Highness, come here to aunt.”
But Yi Lang didn’t move, instead ordering Heyu to bring the lamp closer, “I want to see. I’ve never seen this before, didn’t know it would be like this.”
Then he raised his head to look at Deng Ying, “Why didn’t you petition the Ministry of Justice?”
Deng Ying avoided Yi Lang’s gaze, “Because this isn’t covered by the Great Ming Code. This is an imperial punishment—pardon or responsibility lies entirely in His Majesty’s thoughts.”
Yi Lang fell silent again, quietly watching the exposed flesh under the shackles.
As medicine was applied, Deng Ying nearly ground his teeth.
Yi Lang still stood without moving, “Physician Luo.”
“Your servant is here.”
“How often do these wounds need medicine?”
“Your Highness, once every five days would be right.”
“Mm.”
After acknowledging this, he looked up at Deng Ying, “Listen, Deng Ying. While you await punishment, I will grant you medicine, once every five days. Whether my aunt is at Chengqian Palace or not, you may come.”
“Your Highness need not treat this servant so kindly.”
Yi Lang said, “I’m not doing this for my aunt. I won’t tell you why yet—just accept it as grace and thank me.”
Deng Ying was silent for a moment before bowing, “Very well, this servant thanks Your Highness for your grace.”
The charcoal fire in the room grew warmer.
After Physician Luo and the others withdrew, Deng Ying stood again to offer another thanks.
Yang Wan waited for him to complete his bow before helping him up, then asked Yi Lang, “No more studying today. Would you two like to eat some noodles?”
Yi Lang didn’t respond at first, so Yang Wan shrugged, “Alright, Your Highness doesn’t want any.”
Then she turned to ask Deng Ying, “Would you like some?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go make some.”
Yi Lang suddenly said, “Aunt, I didn’t say I didn’t want any.”
Yang Wan turned back, “Then aunt will make noodles. Your Highness…”
She hesitated for a moment, lowering her voice, “May Deng Ying eat inside?”
Yi Lang looked at Deng Ying’s hands and also hesitated for a moment.
“Yes.”
Yang Wan’s eyes crinkled with joy as she bowed to Yi Lang, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Then she walked toward the inner kitchen.
Deng Ying slowly followed, and Yang Wan said as she tied back her sleeves, “Why are you following? You just had medicine applied, better sit for a while.”
Deng Ying stood beside Yang Wan with a slight smile, “I dare not sit with His Highness in the hall.”
Yang Wan skillfully lit the fire and boiled water, “He’s already agreed, what’s there to fear? He’s a child with a good nature, just too rigidly taught by Zhang Cong and my brother before. This is much better now. As an emperor, being decisive in matters of life and death is proper, but one should still be human, right? I’ve always felt that Emperor Taizong in ‘Zhenguan Zhengyao’ was quite human—bantering with Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling, caring about aging palace women, so full of humanity. I think His Highness will be like that too, reforming the Great Ming’s laws, showing grace to officials and common people.”
She spoke while cutting green vegetables.
Deng Ying listened quietly until she finished, then suddenly called to her.
“Wan-wan.”
“Mm?”
“How do you know about things that will happen?”
Yang Wan froze, almost cutting her hand. She hurriedly tucked her hair behind her ear, “Just guessing. Oh right.”
She carefully put down the knife, “Will you be on duty before the Emperor tomorrow?”
“Yes, the Cabinet and Directorate of Ceremonial will jointly discuss Bai Huan and Liang Weiben’s cases before His Majesty.”
“Good.”
Yang Wan pressed her lips together, “Tomorrow His Highness will go to Yangxin Hall to present his poetry to His Majesty. Wait until he goes, then request from His Majesty the authority to investigate Minister Bai. He will help you.”
Deng Ying asked, “Wan-wan, did you teach His Highness this?”
Yang Wan shook her head, “I think you taught him. Didn’t you once tell him that every dynasty has political factions, and he shouldn’t mind them, just take what’s useful for the country and people? Though he’s young, he wants to protect Hangzhou’s new policies and the Cabinet. I just gave him a method.”
As she finished speaking, the water on the stove began to boil.
Yang Wan scattered the noodles in, watching the bubbling soup, and said, “Also, your wounds were just treated, so rest in Chengqian Palace today. Sleep in my bed—I’m watching over His Highness tonight and won’t return to sleep.”