Just then, an eunuch attendant from the Ceremonial Office came looking for Deng Ying, “Superintendent, the Old Ancestor is setting up the tea ceremony.”

Deng Ying turned his head, “Tell the Old Ancestor I’m coming.”

The attendant said: “Superintendent, please hurry. Today’s tea ceremony with the Old Ancestor shouldn’t be served cold.”

“I understand.”

Yang Lun looked down at Deng Ying, “Can’t you shed this skin and leave the palace? I can find you work to do.”

Deng Ying smiled, “Work as a servant in your household?”

Yang Lun cursed, “What nonsense are you talking?”

“So you admit it’s nonsense.”

Yang Lun was struck speechless and became meek. He glanced at the attendant still standing behind Deng Ying and said softly, “Why is he watching you?”

Deng Ying replied calmly, “To prevent me from returning to the Eastern Factory midway instead of going to the tea ceremony.”

Yang Lun said: “In your current situation, how can I help you?”

Deng Ying shook his head, “You don’t understand palace matters – you can’t help me. But I’m not in as difficult a position as when I first entered the palace. The Eastern Factory is my support now. Thank you for bearing the heavy pressure alone back then and recommending me to His Majesty.”

Yang Lun grimaced, “Why speak of such things? Since you feel I can’t help, hurry to your tea ceremony. I need to go to the Grand Secretariat chamber anyway.”

After speaking, he walked a few steps forward, then turned back to Deng Ying: “Deng Fuling, I don’t care what Teacher thinks – you are my lifelong classmate and dear friend. There’s nothing wrong with you not being an official. This officialdom disgusts me too, Yang Lun, but I don’t want to lose to you.”

Deng Ying smiled and nodded, responding with a “Yes.”

The two parted ways beneath the Bell and Drum Gate, as frost-like apricot branches extended over the deep red palace walls.

The “Fisherman” chapter of Zhuangzi records: “Confucius wandered in the forest of black curtains, resting and sitting upon the apricot altar. His disciples read books while Confucius played strings and drums.”

Seeing early apricot blossoms in spring sunshine, and sharing drinks with friends when flowers are in full bloom – this was the finest season for fellowship.

Walking under the apricot shadows, Yang Lun recalled the times when Zhang Zhanchun was still alive. He and Deng Ying would go to Zhang Zhanchun’s home for meals. Deng Ying would roll up his pants to catch fish in the spring river – the flowing water would make the fish jump, splashing him all over. Even in his youth, he was calm and patient, precise with his hands. Even in catching fish, he was more successful than Yang Lun, who often caught nothing while Deng Ying always managed to catch one or two. The caught fish would be handed to Zhang’s maids to make into soup, and the three would sit by the river drinking soup and discussing the Way. In those spring days full of clamor, both were promising young men with bright futures ahead.

Now the apricot shadows lay on the ground, and stepping on them stained one with gloom.

Yang Lun never imagined that after parting with Deng Ying under the Bell and Drum Tower, they would meet rarely again, and their next chance for a heartfelt talk would not come until the cold autumn of the fourteenth year of Zhenning.

Meanwhile, apricot branches were being arranged in vases as the tea ceremony was being prepared.

The Ceremonial Office’s tea ceremony was somewhat similar to the Grand Secretariat’s meetings. Eunuch officials from the twenty-four bureaus, such as those from the General Services Bureau and the Fuel Conservation Bureau who rarely saw He Yixian, took this opportunity to offer pastries and meat dishes to him.

But today, since the regular court session had ended late and He Yixian was still attending to the Emperor’s return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Chen Hua first put the offered venison on the fire to roast. The charcoal smoke made the meat emit white vapor, and when spices scattered where the fat was sizzling, the aroma immediately spread. Jiang Shangyi, helping Song Yunqing set the table, saw Chen Hua slicing meat and said: “Jian’er won’t eat this, don’t bother.”

Chen Hua looked toward Song Yunqing, “What’s wrong?”

Song Yunqing bent to put down the chopsticks and said: “Naturally there are better things to be bestowed.”

Just then, He Yixian entered with several secretarial eunuchs from the Ceremonial Office. He Yixian took a breath of the room’s air and said: “When it comes to food, one must look to you.”

Chen Hua stepped forward to help him, “Oh my, the Assistant Director was just saying this servant’s efforts were wasted, saying you had better things to bestow.”

He Yixian sat down in the main seat, and the eunuchs below were about to rise and bow, but He Yixian waved his hand and said: “You’ve got the rules wrong.”

“Isn’t paying respects to you the highest rule?”

He Yixian smiled, “Wait a while longer.”

Just as he finished speaking, an attendant came in to report: “Old Ancestor, Superintendent Deng has arrived.”

He Yixian said: “Raise the curtain, invite him in.”

The sound of chains scraping entered the inner chamber, and everyone raised their heads. Deng Ying entered beneath the curtain with a lowered head, fallen apricot blossoms still on his shoulders.

“You’ve come.”

Deng Ying bowed, “Old Ancestor.”

“Sit.”

Deng Ying sat at the lowest seat, and He Yixian spoke again: “Sitting there, how can they pay their respects?”

Deng Ying raised his head, “I won’t accept their respect.”

He Yixian laughed, “That’s for them to decide.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao, the official from the General Services Bureau, said, “Let us pay respects to the Superintendent.”

A roomful of people knelt on the ground, only Chen Hua remained standing, slow to react. When he finally realized, he hurriedly prostrated himself as well.

Deng Ying looked at the kneeling eunuchs and lowered his shackled hands beneath the table, not looking at He Yixian. “What did the Old Ancestor want to tell me?”

He Yixian said: “So you look down on all these people, Superintendent Deng?”

After speaking, he raised his voice: “Your respects aren’t sincere enough. Straighten up and kowtow three more times.”

No one dared disobey, and the sound of foreheads touching the ground rose and fell.

Deng Ying quietly clenched his hands.

“Old Ancestor…”

“Too light! Kowtow again, until Superintendent Deng considers you worthy!”

He Yixian interrupted Deng Ying and took a sip of tea.

The kneeling crowd steeled themselves, pressing their hands to the ground, lifting their shoulders, and arching their backs to bring their foreheads to the floor.

Some began to bleed from the first kowtow.

Deng Ying finally raised his hand to the table and struck it forcefully, “Enough.”

Only then did everyone stop, each with wounds on their foreheads, but none daring to raise a hand to soothe them.

“Won’t you thank him for his grace?”

“We servants thank the Superintendent.”

“Rise.”

He Yixian said: “If the Superintendent tells you to rise, then rise.”

After speaking, he looked up at Deng Ying, “These people are indeed like dogs and pigs compared to your former teachers and classmates, but they’re willing to obey, to kneel before you and serve well – that makes them far better than those you protect. Look at those things on your hands, then look at these people before you. I heard you asked those students arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard on East Public Street, ‘Do you want to be like me?’ So today, look at these people before you – do you want them to be like you?”

Deng Ying looked at Chen Hua, who was an honest person – when He Yixian told him to kowtow harder, he had truly knocked himself dizzy, and now could barely stand steady even with others’ support.

“All of you go out first.”

Only then did the crowd support each other as they walked out. After everyone had left, Deng Ying stood and walked to He Yixian’s front, “I don’t want anyone to be like me. I used to know nothing of making a living, but in these years in the palace, I’ve come to understand that servants have difficult lives. Men die for wealth as birds die for food – seeking private gain isn’t necessarily wrong, but once it becomes excessive, retribution is inevitable. I’ve told the Old Ancestor before – as long as you no longer obstruct the new policies in Hangzhou, I alone will bear responsibility for the school fields case. But I have only one life – after bearing this case, you must take care of yourself.”

“Deng Ying, no one wants you to die. The master also wants you to live. Why must you seek your death? Bai Huan is still in your factory prison, and the report to the master has been suppressed. You can retry this case – if Bai Huan is found guilty, the school field case cannot be investigated. You and I would both be safe, the master would be pleased, and everyone would be happy. Why won’t you agree?”

Deng Ying smiled slightly, “His Majesty can only suppress it for now.”

“What are you saying?”

Deng Ying said coldly: “Official opinion can be suppressed, but what about the voice of the people?”

He Yixian felt an inexplicable chill.

Deng Ying stepped closer to him, “Does the Old Ancestor know why His Majesty unleashed his thunderous might upon the officials at the golden platform today?”

He Yixian remained silent.

Deng Ying lowered his head and said: “In the eyes of those civil officials, respect for one person’s virtue has surpassed the great respect due to hierarchy. Old Ancestor, in this world, right and wrong can be temporarily confused, black and white can be temporarily reversed, and I can bear crimes I haven’t committed, but the direction of people’s hearts cannot be changed.”

“Heh, Deng Ying, can you live long enough to reach what you call the side of people’s hearts?”

Deng Ying shook his head, “Director He, you killed my mentor whom I viewed as a father, yet today I must save you. I am already laden with sin – no death would be too harsh for me. But as Master Zhou of Tongjia Academy said before his death – ‘May my flesh and blood fall to earth to pave a good path for future generations, may my bones become trees to shelter those who follow.’ Even if I become nothing but putrid mud, I will never betray my ancestors.”

He Yixian’s teeth ground together as he slammed the table and stood up, repeatedly asking: “Ancestors? Do you think you can return to being that young graduate scholar of years past? Do you truly believe the master lacks servants like you, truly think the inner court won’t abandon you over this?”

“At this point…”

Deng Ying looked straight at He Yixian, “Whether the inner court abandons me depends on whether I’m willing to abandon myself.”

After speaking, he turned and lifted the warm curtain. The crowd waiting outside all stood up.

“Is the Superintendent leaving?”

“Yes.”

“We respectfully send…”

Deng Ying interrupted them, “Don’t bow to me anymore.”

“Superintendent, we are…”

Deng Ying walked a few steps forward, then turned back to look at everyone: “We all entered the palace as eunuchs, each with our thoughts and difficulties. But whether in poverty or wealth, we must consider ourselves human. During my tenure as Factory Superintendent, I haven’t shown favoritism to anyone, and I dare not ask much now. I only hope everyone will act according to their hearts. Deng Ying bows in thanks.”

As he finished speaking and clasped his hands to bow, he was suddenly grabbed by a force.

“Paving the way for others, are you?”

Deng Ying started, looking up to see Yang Wan holding his arm and smiling at everyone.

“Don’t listen to him. People should live well, eat well, and drink well. If you accept his bow, you’ll have to suffer like him.”

“Miss Wan.”

Everyone smiled as they called to Yang Wan.

Hearing this, Yang Wan released Deng Ying’s arm and her eyes curved in a smile.

“The Ceremonial Office is having a tea ceremony, and our Princess has awarded tea pastries to you all. You should eat and drink as you please. I need to take your Superintendent back for dinner.”

As she spoke, she straightened Deng Ying’s clothes, “You haven’t eaten anything random, have you?”

“No.”

“That’s right. Come on, let’s go back for dinner.”

She led Deng Ying away, saying as they walked: “Deng Ying, from now on, without my permission, you’re not allowed to say foolish things outside, not allowed to randomly thank people, understand?”

Deng Ying followed behind her with a smile, “Wan-wan, how long will you control me like this?”

Yang Wan stopped walking and turned back, standing on tiptoe to look Deng Ying in the eye, “I, Yang Wan, will control you for my entire life. If you die, I am your posthumous reputation; if you live, I am your backup plan. Little Deng Ying, go ahead and court death – I, Yang Wan, at my age, what haven’t I seen?”

“Wan-wan, how old are you this year?”

Yang Wan’s face fell, “Little Deng Ying, don’t be rude.”

“Yes.”