The spring imperial examinations of the fourteenth year of Zhenning arrived as scheduled.

After the Minister of Rites performed the ceremonial offerings to First Teacher Confucius, the ministry’s patrol officers and inspection officials immediately began escorting candidates into the examination compound.

At Qingbo House, the staff had spent the entire night before the examinations shelling nuts.

The workers were puzzled, asking the manager between tasks, “What does the owner want us to shell all these for?”

The manager personally hauled over a bag of dried fruits and said, “Mix these. Then divide them into small portions and wrap them in oiled paper. The owner calls these… what was it… daily nuts. Eat one packet each day for… something about mental clarity… better writing…”

The workers said, “Our owner sure has interesting ideas. But manager, who are all these for? Can we keep some?”

“They’re for the students our owner saved since they’re entering the examination compound now.”

The workers laughed, “Then I’d rather not eat any – I definitely couldn’t handle being confined in those examination cells.”

Though said in jest, the meaning was quite genuine.

Like the provincial examinations, the Great Ming’s metropolitan examinations lasted three days per session, with three sessions total, spanning nine days altogether. Once candidates entered their examination cells, all doors would be locked. For nine days, eating, drinking, and relieving oneself all had to be done within that single cell. Unless an earthquake struck the capital, the cell doors would not be opened.

The examination compound was like a prison. At a time when willow catkins drifted through the city and flowers bloomed amid birdsong everywhere, young scholars began their final “self-imprisonment” before entering official service.

Meanwhile, the joint investigation of Deng Ying by the Ministry of Justice and the Northern Command of the Imperial Guards was also beginning in another “prison” in the capital.

Early that day, Yang Lun hastily ate a bowl of wontons at a stall outside Guangji Temple before heading to the Imperial Guards compound. When he arrived, Bai Yuyang and Qi Huaiyang were already there, but Zhang Luo hadn’t emerged yet. Tea was set out in the hall, and the officials from the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Revenue all stood outside, bowing and making way as Yang Lun entered.

Yang Lun strode into the main hall and asked Qi Huaiyang directly, “Closed-door interrogation?”

Qi Huaiyang was holding a teacup while speaking with Bai Yuyang. Hearing Yang Lun’s sudden question, he nearly spilled his tea.

Quickly steadying the cup, he rose to greet Yang Lun, “Of course, it will be closed-door. We’ve already arranged it with the Imperial Guards.”

Yang Lun glanced at the sky before turning toward the rear courtyard.

Qi Huaiyang called after him: “Assistant Minister Yang, we’re discussing the interrogation outline here. Won’t you join us?”

Yang Lun turned back, “Has the Imperial Guard sent over their recent interrogation records?”

Qi Huaiyang shook his head, “Not yet, though we’ve requested them several times.”

Yang Lun replied, “Then what are you discussing? I’ll go get them now.”

With that, he strode into the rear hall.

By then, Deng Ying had been brought from the imperial prison and was temporarily held in a side room of the rear courtyard.

As Yang Lun was an investigating official for this case, the Imperial Guard officers had no grounds to prevent him from questioning the prisoner before the formal hearing. Seeing him approach, they only said, “Assistant Minister, the smell in there might be rather unpleasant.”

Yang Lun replied, “No matter. Open the lock.”

The officer unlocked the door for Yang Lun.

Yang Lun stood silently at the doorway for a moment before pushing the door open and stepping inside.

The room contained only two stools and a table.

Deng Ying sat at the table, drinking from a bowl of water.

When Yang Lun pushed open the door, bright sunlight suddenly fell across Deng Ying’s knees, causing him to instinctively move his legs aside.

Raising a hand to shield his eyes, he looked toward the door. Upon recognizing the visitor, a slight smile appeared.

“Ah, it’s you.”

The guard watching him shouted, “Kneel before the investigating official!”

Startled by the guard’s rebuke, Deng Ying quickly responded, “Yes.”

Seeing Deng Ying about to stand, Yang Lun immediately darkened his expression and turned to the guard, “Leave. I will question him alone.”

He then gestured for Deng Ying to remain seated.

After Yang Lun forcefully dismissed the guard, the door was closed and the room darkened once again.

Yang Lun turned back to look at Deng Ying, who wore a gray prisoner’s garment with half his forearms exposed. He had grown even thinner than before.

“Keep drinking your water. Don’t act like you don’t know what to do just because I came in.”

“I dare not drink too much.”

As Deng Ying set down his water bowl, his chains clattered against the table.

Yang Lun sat down across from Deng Ying, “Have you eaten this morning?”

Deng Ying smiled, “You came specially to see me before the hearing just to ask if I’ve eaten?”

“You think I want to ask!”

Seeing the veins bulging on Yang Lun’s forehead, Deng Ying said softly, “Save your anger for the hearing. It will look more convincing.”

Yang Lun snorted, then turned to look at Deng Ying: “My sister asked me to tell you that she and the students are fine. She says to eat more in prison, sleep longer, put on some weight, and stop getting thinner.”

Deng Ying couldn’t help but laugh, “Yang Zixi, that doesn’t sound like what Wanwan would say.”

“Well, that’s the meaning of it. I’ve delivered the message anyway.”

Deng Ying nodded, saying gently, “Alright, I understand.”

The two sat in silence for a while, Yang Lun looking Deng Ying up and down. Deng Ying placed his hands on his knees, straightened his back slightly, and said to Yang Lun, “Don’t worry, they only used light torture.”

“I’ve never heard of the Northern Command using light torture.”

Deng Ying said, “Zhang Luo told me that a few days ago, a secret imperial order came from the palace forbidding torture. So only the first day or two were truly difficult. These past few days, they’ve been letting me recover. Most wounds have mostly healed.”

Only then did Yang Lun withdraw his gaze, “I’m surprised Zhang Luo would tell you such things.”

Deng Ying smiled slightly, “Indeed, it’s rare.”

Yang Lun sneered, “Must have taken the wrong medicine.”

Deng Ying asked, “By the way, today is the first day of the spring examinations, isn’t it?”

Yang Lun nodded, “Yes. Those people you and Wan’er protected all entered yesterday. Wan’er was worried and made me go check on them.”

Deng Ying stared at the water bowl on the table, “How did she manage to save them?”

“She took them to Qingbo House and had your Eastern Depot people seal it off. She forcefully bought an extra day that way.”

“And then?”

“Then she had the Crown Prince take responsibility for those people.”

Deng Ying paused briefly, then nodded.

Yang Lun said, “Honestly, I can’t help but admire her.”

Deng Ying smiled slightly, “Apart from my status, I’m not worthy of her in any way. Zixi…”

He looked up, “That oath I made to you before in the Ministry of Justice – I still remember it. If I’m sentenced to death this time, consider it my fulfillment of that oath. Don’t help me.”

Yang Lun grabbed Deng Ying’s hand, “You think my sister could ever smile again if you died? Deng Fuling, when you get out, I need to find a day with Yang Wan to properly scold you.”

“Let go…”

Only then did Yang Lun realize he had grabbed a wounded area, and quickly released his grip.

Deng Ying pressed his wrist, lowering his head to say, “This time I cannot save myself. I can only wait for imperial clemency. Though His Majesty has no desire to execute me, he also has no reason to pardon me.”

Yang Lun looked at him and said, “Wan’er asks you to wait. If you trust her, just stay alive and wait.”

“Until autumn?”

Yang Lun started, “How do you know about that too?”

Before Deng Ying could answer, the guard outside called, “Assistant Minister, the officials are taking their seats in front. We need to escort the prisoner to the hall.”

Deng Ying stood up, “You go first. Don’t show grief in the hall. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Yang Lun responded with “I know” and swept out of the side room.

The main hall doors were closed.

Besides Bai Yuyang, Zhang Luo, and the other investigating officials, only one clerk from the Ministry of Revenue remained in the hall to keep records.

As the light was poor after closing the doors, Zhang Luo ordered four candles to be lit.

Bai Yuyang said, “Before bringing in Deng Ying, I have something to say to you, gentlemen. Regardless of what we discover today, we cannot submit private memorials about it. After the interrogation of Deng Ying is complete, I will write the memorial, and after your review, we will jointly sign it.”

Zhang Luo remained silent, and Yang Lun refused to speak. Only Qi Huaiyang, seeing his minister’s awkward position, clasped his hands and responded “Yes.”

Seeing this, Bai Yuyang said no more, turning to Zhang Luo to say, “Bring him in.”

Zhang Luo raised his hand slightly, and the guards brought Deng Ying from the rear hall, forcing him to kneel in the center. The candlelight flickered gently across his downturned face. Though bound, he still maintained proper etiquette.

Bai Yuyang looked at the interrogation outline, then raised his head to ask directly, “How were the two school fields at Chu Mountain and Lake Dan privately occupied under a public name?”

Deng Ying straightened his back, “I did not alter the land deeds. I only privately diverted the grain produced from the fields and sold it privately in Hangzhou.”

“Privately selling official grain?”

“Yes.”

Bai Yuyang set down the outline and continued questioning, “When did this begin?”

Deng Ying raised his head and replied, “From the beginning of the thirteenth year of Zhenning.”

Bai Yuyang said, “Over a year then. How much silver was taken?”

Deng Ying replied, “I didn’t keep count. Most was squandered.”

“Squandered? I hear you’ve always lived frugally. The private sale of official grain is punishable by death. Was it truly you who squandered it, or are you covering for someone? Think carefully before answering.”

Deng Ying said, “Minister Bai, please conclude this case quickly. No matter how many times you question me, my answer will remain the same.”

Bai Yuyang picked up the confession on the desk and asked Zhang Luo, “When you obtained this confession, did you torture him?”

Zhang Luo glanced up and said coldly, “Initially yes, but after the prisoner confessed his crimes, there was no reason to continue the torture. Minister Bai, today you are borrowing the Imperial Guards’ premises to question the prisoner. I won’t comment on other matters, but His Majesty said to treat him as a criminal slave. Since he has confessed, judge him according to the law. After you finish questioning him, my office has other cases to investigate. The Ministry of Justice cannot occupy the Imperial Guards’ main hall indefinitely.”

Bai Yuyang’s ears reddened.

“What do you mean by that, Commander Zhang?”

Zhang Luo said, “My meaning is simple. His Majesty hopes to conclude this case quickly. You’ve asked what needed to be asked, now the Ministry of Justice should determine the sentence. During deliberations, Deng Ying will remain in the imperial prison. Once the sentence is decided, you can come collect him.”

“You…”

Bai Yuyang’s hands trembled slightly. Qi Huaiyang quickly said, “Minister, let’s question the details.”

Yang Lun said, “I don’t think there’s anything more to ask.”

He shook open the confession in his hand, “I’ve read the confession Deputy Commander Zhang obtained from Deng Ying. It doesn’t differ much from our interrogation outline. He’s answered what needed answering. At least the Ministry of Revenue now understands the irregularities with the two fields at Chu and Lake. We can immediately remeasure and register them, returning them to the academies to support education.”

He finished speaking and looked at Deng Ying.

“Deng Ying.”

Deng Ying raised his head at the call.

“Present.”

“Do you feel remorse?”

Deng Ying gave him a faint smile, then bowed and replied, “I do.”

“That’s sufficient.”