The next day, before the hour of Mao, Deng Ying had already risen.

Yang Wan came out of Yi Lang’s chamber carrying a lamp, “Are you leaving?”

Deng Ying nodded.

Yang Wan pulled her robe tighter around her shoulders, “It’s still early, won’t you sleep a bit longer?”

“I need to go to the Ministry of Justice first.”

He lifted his arms slightly, “These need to be temporarily removed. I haven’t been able to groom myself for days, and I can’t appear unkempt before the Emperor.”

Yang Wan nodded without asking further questions, stepping aside and waving to Deng Ying, “Then go slowly.”

“I will.”

Yang Wan watched Deng Ying leave Chengqian Palace before returning to her chambers with the lamp.

The calming incense she had burned for Deng Ying was finished, though its fragrance lingered. The water he had used to wash still sat quietly by the door. The bedding was neat as if no one had lain there. Yang Wan set down the lamp and sat on the bed for a while, remembering how last night, Deng Ying had still been too afraid to eat noodles in front of Yi Lang, hiding in her room with his bowl.

He had sat right here on her bed, carefully leaning forward, holding the bowl very low, afraid his unsteady hands might spill the soup.

Yang Wan thought of this as she propped up her face with her hand, curling up against the bed.

Everyone’s hearts were changing, except Deng Ying’s.

He lived his life with such clean cautiousness.

How to make him relax a little? Yang Wan closed her eyes and suddenly remembered that night with Deng Ying.

She quickly patted her cheeks, suddenly wishing this era had some psychology books that matched its cultural background. After all, interdisciplinary research was popular in the 21st century—if such books existed, she would be willing to spend some time studying them.

Only Qi Huaiyang was at the Ministry of Justice, sitting at his desk writing official documents. The day hadn’t fully brightened, and lamplight shadows danced gently on the walls. Qi Huaiyang had placed a brazier of charcoal by his feet, its sparks crackling. He vaguely heard the sound of iron chains scraping against the ground and looked up from his writing.

“Supervisor Deng.”

Deng Ying cupped his hands in greeting, “Minister Qi.”

Qi Huaiyang rose and came out from behind his desk. Seeing two Eastern Depot guards carrying Deng Ying’s official robes behind him, his tone became polite.

He asked Deng Ying, “There’s no court session or interrogation for you today, Supervisor. What brings you here?”

Deng Ying said, “I must go before the Emperor today. I hope the Minister will accommodate me and allow me to change clothes.”

After hearing this, Qi Huaiyang called for bailiffs, “Help Supervisor Deng remove these.”

The bailiffs came forward to unlock the restraints, and Deng Ying cooperated quietly.

Qi Huaiyang couldn’t help but ask, “Is His Majesty still holding the Bureau of Revenue’s memorial impeaching Minister Bai?”

Deng Ying replied, “It will be discussed today.”

“Has His Majesty summoned the Directorate of Ceremonial?”

“Yes.”

As Deng Ying spoke, he frowned. The two Eastern Depot guards behind him immediately barked fiercely at the bailiffs, “What are you doing?”

The bailiffs immediately turned pale with fright.

Deng Ying turned back, “You wait outside. Leave the clothes here.”

Watching the two guards being driven out, Qi Huaiyang said softly, “Yang Lun told me to accommodate you when possible. Though I don’t have much say in the Ministry of Justice, I can manage these small matters.”

Deng Ying didn’t respond to Qi Huaiyang’s words, instead lowering his hands and looking up to ask, “Minister Qi, how is Minister Bai’s health lately?”

“He improved somewhat last month.” He sighed and continued, “These days, not all illnesses can be cured with medicine.”

Hearing this, Deng Ying couldn’t help but smile, “I understand.”

Qi Huaiyang changed the subject, “What I worry about now is what outcome will come from joint deliberation with the Directorate of Ceremonial.”

Just as he finished speaking, the restraints had been removed from Deng Ying’s body.

“Minister, it’s done.”

Qi Huaiyang nodded in acknowledgment, “Ah, you may go first.”

Seeing Deng Ying bend down alone to pick up his official robes, he added, “Supervisor Deng, you can have your men come in to assist you.”

Deng Ying glanced back at the door, “Never mind, they’re not servants.”

Qi Huaiyang watched Deng Ying carry his clothes into the inner hall and told the bailiffs, “Be gentle later when you put them back on.”

A bailiff hurriedly replied, “Honestly, Minister, if we hadn’t dealt with this Eastern Depot Supervisor ourselves, we wouldn’t believe he was such a person.”

Hearing this, Qi Huaiyang waved his hand without saying anything and returned to his desk to continue writing his earlier document.

Deng Ying took only the time it took to drink a cup of tea before coming out. The bailiffs who had to put his restraints back on felt reluctant. Deng Ying turned his head aside and casually asked Qi Huaiyang, “Is Minister Bai still writing my crime report?”

Qi Huaiyang replied, “No, the Minister is holding it back.”

“Mm.”

Deng Ying nodded, and after the bailiffs withdrew, he bowed again to Qi Huaiyang.

“Thank you, Minister, and please convey my thanks to Minister Bai as well.”

Qi Huaiyang rose to return the bow, “Safe journey, Supervisor.”

That day, Yangxin Hall was particularly silent.

The Directorate of Ceremonial and the Cabinet stood on opposite sides, while a Court of State Ceremonial official stood in the middle, reading aloud the impeachment memorial from the Bureau of Revenue in a resonant voice.

The memorial wasn’t long, but the official read it with elaborate inflections for a very long time.

Smoke from the crane-headed censer drifted about, making Yang Lun’s eyes ache. His patience was never good, and finding the memorial nonsensical, he couldn’t help but cough twice. The Zhenning Emperor glanced at him, and the nearby Censor immediately recorded Yang Lun’s comportment.

When the official finally finished reading, the Zhenning Emperor took the Censor’s record, looking at it while saying, “Does Vice Minister Yang have anything to say?”

Yang Lun came forward and knelt to reply, “Your Majesty, the Minister has served two reigns and has overseen many imperial examinations. His students are countless. Even if one like Liang Weiben commits treason, it’s hardly avoidable.”

The Zhenning Emperor said, “Your words carry no weight with me. What I mean is…”

At this point, the Emperor suddenly coughed several times. The Cabinet ministers hurriedly knelt as one, crying out, “Your Majesty, please take care of your dragon body.”

The Directorate staff busied themselves, some fetching water, others holding basins, attending to the Emperor as he rinsed his mouth.

After the Emperor finished, Deng Ying presented a cup of tea. The Emperor looked at his hands and said, “Your hands and feet are not well, you need not serve.”

He Yixian said, “Master, you are merciful, but if he cannot serve wholeheartedly, he will feel anxious.”

The Zhenning Emperor laughed softly, accepting the tea from Deng Ying’s hands and taking a sip, then told He Yixian, “I will go change clothes.”

He stood up, with Hu Xiang hurrying to follow and attend him.

Though the Cabinet ministers felt resentful at this, they dared not speak.

He Yixian stepped closer to the officials and announced, “This matter involves Japanese pirates in Zhejiang. His Majesty’s meaning is that what should be investigated must be investigated.”

Bai Yuyang couldn’t help but say, “His Majesty granted us an audience today but won’t speak to us directly, instead having the Seal-bearer relay his words. What reason is this?”

He Yixian glanced toward the inner hall and bowed, “Minister Bai, don’t be angry. This old servant is merely His Majesty’s mouthpiece.”

Bai Yuyang ground his teeth, wanting to stand but remembering the Emperor hadn’t called for them to rise when he left. Finding himself kneeling awkwardly before He Yixian, his anger dissipated and he couldn’t speak the words he’d meant to say.

He Yixian looked down at Bai Yuyang: “Minister Bai, His Majesty still shows consideration for Minister Bai. Yesterday he summoned the Northern Depot Commander to the palace and personally instructed that the Minister be treated with courtesy.”

Hearing these words, Bai Yuyang suddenly understood—the Emperor had used changing clothes as an excuse to leave because he didn’t want to announce this decision in front of them himself.

“My father is a Cabinet Minister. Even if he must be investigated, it should be handled by the Three Judicial Offices. How can…”

“Minister Bai, such words are most disrespectful!”

He Yixian clapped his hands to interrupt, then told the nearby Censor, “Record those words.”

“You…”

Yang Lun yanked Bai Yuyang’s sleeve hard from behind.

“Stop talking…”

He Yixian said, “This is His Majesty’s grace. Does Minister Bai understand?”

Bai Yuyang remained silent.

Yang Lun said in a low voice, “Speak up…”

Only then did Bai Yuyang say angrily, “I spoke out of turn.”

He Yixian then continued, “His Majesty said yesterday that the Minister is advanced in years and has family members who cannot be disturbed, so during the investigation, His Majesty forbids searches of his residence. Minister Bai, these are all imperial graces—you must consider them carefully.”

Just then, palace maids lifted the curtain to the inner hall, and the Zhenning Emperor emerged. Everyone bowed again.

The Emperor walked to his throne and sat down.

“How are the deliberations going?”

He Yixian bowed and said, “Your servant has conveyed Your Majesty’s grace to the ministers.”

Bai Yuyang said, “Your Majesty, this slave was insolent before the throne and slandered my father. I beg Your Majesty to punish him severely!”

The Zhenning Emperor said, “These days, I have eaten little. With the Minister ill in bed, I worry day and night, often thinking of what the Late Emperor said to me before he passed. The Minister taught me carefully in my youth. Though not my official tutor, I regard him as an imperial teacher. Let me speak frankly with you today.”

He lifted his teacup. “In my fourteen years on the throne, I have been prudent and self-disciplined. Besides the Three Great Halls, I have never used internal funds to renovate my living quarters. These servants who have attended me for so many years—I have only rewarded them with a few everyday clothes. When you criticize them, I can accept it. When you investigate the school lands case…”

He looked at Deng Ying, “I have also had him await punishment. But I cannot be without attendants—will you come to serve me?”

After these words, no one responded.

The Zhenning Emperor pressed his brow, “Let’s end the discussion here.”

Yang Lun said, “Your Majesty, I beg you to reconsider.”

Bai Yuyang also kowtowed, “Your Majesty, I request to resign to avoid suspicion. Please hand my father’s case along with Liang Weiben’s to the Three Judicial Offices.”

The Zhenning Emperor laughed, “So you don’t trust me.”

“We deserve death a thousand times over.”

Just then, an attendant announced from outside that the Crown Prince had arrived.

The Emperor ordered him brought in.

Deng Ying couldn’t help but look toward the hall entrance.

Yi Lang entered and bowed, then seeing the Cabinet ministers present, he straightened and cupped his hands, “Your son will wait outside.”

The Zhenning Emperor beckoned to him, “No matter, come here.”

Yi Lang walked to the throne and bowed, presenting something.

“Your son happened upon this today and requests Father Emperor’s review.”

He Yixian presented Yi Lang’s poetry to him.

Yi Lang straightened up and looked at the kneeling ministers, “Father Emperor, what’s wrong with the Cabinet ministers?”

The Zhenning Emperor didn’t answer him, instead reading a line from the poetry: “‘Departing the Nine Heavens to fulfill Heaven’s mandate, ruling the Four Seas to pity all living beings.’ This line is very good.”

Yi Lang turned back, “Father Emperor receives Heaven’s mandate in the sky and acts as a benevolent ruler on earth. You pity the Minister’s illness and sympathize with the servants’ hardships. You bestow grace both high and low—this cannot be called unjust.”

“Just.”

The Zhenning Emperor repeated these two words.

Deng Ying bowed and said, “Your Majesty, this servant has a request.”

“Speak.”

“Please let this servant investigate the Minister’s case.”

He straightened slightly, “His Highness says you pity the Minister’s illness and sympathize with the servants’ hardships—this cannot be called unjust. This servant now awaits punishment due to the Minister’s impeachment. If we speak of justice, the Minister’s crimes should rightfully be investigated by this servant.”