Yang Wan often thought about Yang Xing’s words about “carrying regrets.”

In these four years of the Ming Dynasty, did she have regrets?

If it were in the 21st century, she would have quite a few regrets.

For instance, she hadn’t seen “The Biography of Deng Ying” published and didn’t know if the final cover design would look good, how the sales would be, and whether it could become her representative work. Would her mother cry after reading it? Would her father fall silent? Would her brother realize that being an IT elite wasn’t suitable for her?

These regrets were left in modern times but seemed to have followed her back to the Ming Dynasty.

Because of her research subject’s sacrifice for her, the researcher, heaven seemed to permit Yang Wan to complete that “old dream” again.

She was the author of “The Biography of Deng Ying,” and also the publisher of this present notebook.

In the Ming Dynasty, during China’s ancient printing golden age, in the capital where official, regional, and private printing houses all flourished, she once again personally compiled the account of Deng Ying’s life.

Mid-autumn of the first year of Jinghe, Yang Wan handed the completed transcribed notebook to Song Yunqing.

Song Yunqing took it, helping Yang Wan lean back on the bed, “You should rest for a few days, you’re sick beyond recognition.”

Yang Wan coughed several times, raising her hand to point at her manuscript, “Take it, have the craftsmen engrave the printing blocks.”

Song Yunqing asked: “What should we name it?”

Hearing this question, Yang Wan closed her eyes and leaned against the headboard, recalling the titles of Ming Dynasty books she had seen.

“Complete Record of State Ministers,” “Great Tales of Military Officials,” “Record of Officials’ Warnings,” “Collection of Great Ritual Discussions,” “Record of Examination Success,” “Record of Metropolitan Examinations” … Like “The Biography of Deng Ying,” she wrote years ago, clear and straightforward like reference books. However, this notebook didn’t deserve the words “biography” or “record.”

It had no layered logical structure, instead recording bits and pieces of a person’s daily life and medical treatment.

In this era, what could it be called?

Yang Wan opened her eyes, looked at the manuscript, and suddenly said softly: “Observational Notes from the Eastern Depot.”

“Observational Notes from the Eastern Depot.”

When Yang Lun saw this book at his residence, it was his birthday.

He wasn’t in the mood originally, but this was his first birthday after becoming Deputy Chief Grand Secretary. Even though he hadn’t arranged a feast at home and had declined congratulatory gifts from various places, several officials from the Ministry of Revenue’s departments and Censors from the Bureau of Revenue still came to his door.

Being an official at court meant maintaining face, so Yang Lun had no choice but to return from his ministry, have Xiao Wen set up two tables in the flower hall, and invite Qi Huaiyang to keep them company as he entertained them with wine.

The wind outside the hall was somewhat cold.

Xiao Wen had warmed the wine, making it quick to spread warmth once drunk.

Yang Lun sullenly drank several cups but felt no trace of intoxication.

He had no heart to deal with these people and hoped Qi Huaiyang would come quickly, yet Qi Huaiyang wouldn’t arrive. Yang Lun sent people to invite him repeatedly, finally managing to wait for him after three rounds of drinks.

A servant held an umbrella escorting Qi Huaiyang into the flower hall. Seeing him enter, everyone hurriedly put down their wine cups to greet him. Qi Huaiyang raised his hand indicating them to be at ease, then turned to pull Yang Lun aside: “I must leave immediately.”

Yang Lun said: “I called you here to drink and keep you company. I have no mood to entertain today, what reason do you have to leave?”

Qi Huaiyang turned and had someone present an oilcloth package, “Look at this first.”

Yang Lun opened the oilcloth, glanced once, and froze.

Qi Huaiyang said: “I originally couldn’t come, but I thought since she’s your sister, I had to inform you first no matter what.”

Yang Lun became agitated, picking up the papers and rapidly flipping through several pages, almost tearing the corners.

“What exactly did she write!”

Qi Huaiyang pressed down Yang Lun’s hand, “Can’t you guess?”

Yang Lun paused.

Indeed, how could he not guess?

Qi Huaiyang said: “The Five Cities Military Command has already been mobilized. At the Censorate, we don’t know if the Chief Censor will enter the palace. You’re not on duty today, I must return to the Grand Secretariat duty room, otherwise, the Censorate will surely make this into a big issue.”

Yang Lun asked: “Have the Military Command’s men gone to Qingbo Pavilion?”

“Yes.”

Qi Huaiyang nodded, trying to keep his voice level, “Lord Yang, stay calm first. Today is your birthday, people from the Bureaus and Ministries are all here. The wine here can’t stop, you can’t leave, and you especially can’t go help her. I’ll try to mediate first…”

Yang Lun interrupted: “Once the Military Command takes her away, what room will you and I have to mediate!”

Silenced by his shout, Qi Huaiyang fell quiet.

Xiao Wen walked out from the flower hall and said to Yang Lun: “How did you end up arguing with the Minister?”

Qi Huaiyang hurriedly said: “Don’t blame him, Madam, we just got heated in conversation.”

Xiao Wen said: “The guests inside are all asking, don’t stay outside…”

“Women should not speak of such matters.”

Startled by his rebuke, Xiao Wen fell silent.

“Have them disperse!”

Yang Lun shouted, then moved to leave. Qi Huaiyang hurriedly followed, saying: “I said I would mediate, just wait for my news first. Going there rashly like this will only give those people at the Censorate something to use against you…”

Yang Lun turned back and shouted: “Qi Huaiyang, that’s my sister!”

Just as he finished speaking, he collided with a servant rushing in.

His inner turmoil was about to erupt when he heard the servant say: “Sir, this was delivered by an official from the Embroidered Uniform Guard outside, requesting you read it immediately.”

Yang Lun raised his hand to take it. Qi Huaiyang hurriedly asked, “What is it?”

Yang Lun lowered his head, his voice becoming somewhat calmer.

“Zhang Luo’s letter.”

Outside Qingbo Pavilion, Yang Wan was dragged from her sickbed to the door by men from the Five Cities Military Command.

Still recovering from illness, she wore only a thin undergarment. Now exposed to the wind, she shivered uncontrollably wave after wave.

Song Yunqing rushed out after her, falling to her knees before the Military Command men, “Our Qingbo Pavilion will close immediately, I beg you, don’t take her away…”

“Yunqing…”

Yang Wan coughed several times, “Get up, don’t beg.”

Song Yunqing turned back, “But what about you…”

The Military Command Commander said: “Pull this woman away, chain the prisoner, and take her.”

Several men stepped forward, forcefully gripping Yang Wan’s wrist. Song Yunqing cried out: “You can’t treat her like this!”

The Commander said impatiently: “Told you to drag her away, what are you standing there for!”

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly came from down the road, growing closer.

The Military Command Commander raised his hand signaling everyone to be alert, turned to look, and saw a group of men in black clothes, with Zhang Luo at the front.

“Damn it.”

The Commander couldn’t help cursing, yet had to step forward to pay respects.

“Your Honor.”

Zhang Luo reined in his horse at the door, glanced at Yang Wan below his horse, raised his riding crop pointing at her: “Release her.”

“Lord Zhang…”

Zhang Luo didn’t even look at him, raised his voice, and shouted at the men around Yang Wan: “Did you not understand?”

The guards’ backs went cold with fear, hurriedly unlocking the shackles on Yang Wan’s hands.

The Military Command Commander watched his subordinates following Zhang Luo’s every command, and couldn’t help saying from the side: “Lord Zhang, with you acting like this, how are we to answer to the Censorate?”

Zhang Luo said from atop his horse: “Why do you need to answer to the Censorate?”

“I…”

Zhang Luo gave a cold laugh, “You still don’t understand your position as Commander – in this place, you still don’t know who protects her?”

The Military Command men were stunned.

Zhang Luo said coldly: “Do I need to make it even clearer?”

“We wouldn’t dare…”

“Since that’s the case, take your men and leave. The Embroidered Uniform Guard will handle this.”

After speaking, he dismounted and ordered: “Seal the door!”

Seeing this, Song Yunqing hurriedly went forward to support Yang Wan, but as soon as she touched her, it immediately triggered a bout of violent coughing.

“Yunqing don’t move me… I… I need a moment.”

Song Yunqing quickly let go of her, “Alright… rest a while, I’ll go inside and bring out a blanket.”

With that, she ran inside.

Zhang Luo crouched down, seeing Yang Wan shaking all over, instinctively moved to take off his cloak.

However, just as he raised his hand, he suddenly heard the person before him say: “Don’t give it to me.”

Zhang Luo’s fingers paused as he looked down at Yang Wan.

She leaned against the door, her face somewhat flushed, but still showing him a smile.

Catching her breath, she raised her hand to tidy her slightly disheveled hair, suppressing her cough as she said: “Though I look quite pitiful now, I’m very afraid of being pitied.”

Zhang Luo lowered his hand, “Why?”

Yang Wan shrugged her shoulders, “Those who pity me won’t read that book, they’ll only watch my tragedy show, but I’m fighting so hard to live, not to perform.”

Zhang Luo silently looked at her, suddenly asking: “How dare you?”

Yang Wan laughed, “Because I can’t let it go, can’t resign myself to this.”

She choked a bit as she spoke, “I know you can all accept it, even Deng Ying himself could accept it by this point, but I can’t.”

Zhang Luo said coldly: “Because you love him.”

“Not just that.”

Yang Wan pressed her lips together and shook her head, “Because I know that afterward, no one will clear his name. His spirit will have to wait hundreds of years amid condemnation by word and pen.”

Zhang Luo looked at Yang Wan in silence for a long while before turning his head to one side, “You can’t save him anymore. He bears a hundred crimes, death is certain, and His Majesty means to protect you – you shouldn’t waste that.”

He stood up after speaking, “I can leave Qingbo Pavilion unsealed, but I must burn all the books and printing blocks in your pavilion today, and I must also take away all the printing ink and paper you’ve stockpiled. You must not resist, otherwise I will have you arrested.”

“Alright.”

Yang Wan lifted her head, “I won’t resist, I’ll let you take them.”

“Yang Wan!”

Zhang Luo called out her name, “Stop opposing the court, you can’t win.”

Yang Wan hugged her knees and sat up straight, “Remember what I told you before? If one day I also become a prisoner, please treat me the same way you treated Deng Ying.”

“What are you saying…”

“Zhang Luo.”

She called his name in return, looking up earnestly: “I, Yang Wan, am also a scholar.”

Zhang Luo looked down and said: “Must it be this way? What else can you do?”

Yang Wan slowly raised both hands to him.

Her arms were half-hidden in the sleeves of her undergarment, the exposed parts pale and frail, yet looking closely at her fingers’ edges, one could faintly see the calluses left from long-term holding of writing brushes.

“With the printing blocks gone, I still have my hands. Unless you cut off these hands of mine, preventing me from holding a brush.”