Yang Lun froze.

The Red Pill case remained a mystery involving the Emperor’s life. After the Emperor’s sudden death, various factions repeatedly tried to reopen the case – from the Imperial Cabinet to Daoist powers, and even the palace consorts. Countless people were entangled in it.

When Deng Ying brought up this case now, it wasn’t to debate the truth with Yang Lun, but rather to touch upon the critical matter of the Emperor’s life and the undercurrent of political forces behind it.

“Do you think… the Imperial Household Department would…”

Yang Lun left his words unfinished.

Deng Ying didn’t respond either. Their silence carried mutual caution about the current political situation.

The autumn wind swept up fallen leaves and billowed Deng Ying’s official robes. He lowered his head and coughed softly, “Zixie, do you know what’s most dangerous?”

“What?”

“When servants harbor thoughts of killing their master, yet the master refuses to guard against them. His Majesty previously intended to establish the Crown Prince as his heir, but the civil officials’ support for the Prince made His Majesty suspicious. That’s why during the succession debate two years ago, Huang Ran met with a tragic death. It’s the same now. You are outside officials who have studied the classics and follow the great way. You believe the Emperor should be like the sages, but that’s not the case. Unlike me, wearing these robes and walking in the imperial city, you can’t see His Majesty’s true desires. Only servants know what their master is thinking. That’s why His Majesty has always refused to punish the Imperial Household Department, even though he knows in his heart these people are Great Ming’s political catastrophe.”

Yang Lun frowned.

“Are you saying you agree with His Majesty’s behavior and instead blame the cabinet officials for not knowing their place?” He stepped forward, “If private desires lead to allowing servants to harm the court, what becomes of the suffering of scholars throughout the land and our pledges to serve the people?”

“Yang Zixie, I don’t agree!” Yang Lun’s throat tightened as Deng Ying raised his voice, “But watching you all die, what does that make me?”

He raised his head, “I know when rulers err, ministers have only one clear path – to submit honest counsel.”

“Then what about you?” Yang Lun’s words came through gritted teeth, “What path do you walk?”

Deng Ying replied evenly: “Aren’t all paths that spring from a scholarly heart clean?”

Upon hearing these words, Yang Lun felt as if thorns were pressing into his back. He pressed his forehead and took two steps to the side, lowering his voice: “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said these things to you anymore. Earlier at the Ministry of War office, I heard some unpleasant words and became confused.”

He turned around, “In the current situation, with He Yixian conspiring with the Empress and us knowing nothing of His Majesty’s daily care, if as you worry, servants harbor thoughts of killing their master and will surely attempt to seize power, how can we protect the Crown Prince?”

Deng Ying said: “Let’s wait and see how His Majesty handles these memorials submitted today.”

“Alright.” Yang Lun relaxed his clenched hand, “I’ll wait for news in the duty room.”

Past noon, the courtyard wind wouldn’t cease.

The doors creaked in the wind. Yi Lang hadn’t returned from attending the Emperor in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Yang Wan was feeling drowsy and had just laid down to rest when Heyu frantically pushed open the door: “Aunt Wan, something’s happened to the Prince!”

Yang Wan quickly sat up, “What happened?”

Heyu said anxiously: “Qingmeng who followed the Prince returned saying the Empress berated the Prince in the Hall of Mental Cultivation for ‘not caring about his father’s illness’…”

Yang Wan interrupted, “Did the Prince do something?”

Heyu shook her head: “We don’t know either. Qingmeng’s account was confused. I was worried and didn’t keep him to explain details to you, Aunt. I told him to go back to the Hall to listen for news.”

Just as she finished speaking, a young eunuch timidly announced from outside: “Aunt Wan, the Empress summons you immediately.”

Hearing this, Heyu twisted her sleeves anxiously, “This…”

Yang Wan stood up and said to Heyu: “I should go than have Qingmeng there. Don’t panic, guard this place well.”

Heyu pressed her lips together and nodded.

Yang Wan changed into palace attire and followed the messenger from the Hall of Mental Cultivation. At the entrance, she saw Yi Lang standing silently. He didn’t speak even upon seeing her.

Before him stood Wang Zhong, the head eunuch from the Empress’s palace. Seeing Yang Wan approach, he stepped aside to reveal a stone threshold at the Hall’s entrance.

Yang Wan glanced down at the threshold, then looked up at Wang Zhong: “Is this the Empress’s will?”

Wang Zhong replied: “They say Aunt Wan is very perceptive. Indeed, we need not say more.”

After Wang Zhong’s words, Yi Lang suddenly raised his head and glared at him. Though Wang Zhong was experienced in palace affairs, Yi Lang’s gaze still made him unconsciously step back.

Yang Wan said evenly: “Besides punishing me, is there any punishment for the Prince?”

Wang Zhong replied: “The Empress has shown mercy, considering the Prince’s youth, there will be no additional punishment.”

“Very well.”

Yang Wan lifted her skirts and looked down at the stone threshold. Pressing her lips together, she knelt along its edge.

“Aunt, get up.”

Yi Lang turned his back to Yang Wan and stared up at Wang Zhong, “Why won’t the Empress let me attend to Father Emperor? I deeply worry for Father’s illness – where is my error?”

“Your Highness…”

“Even if I erred, why must Aunt be punished in my place?”

Wang Zhong lost his nerve and didn’t know how to respond.

Li Bingbi, standing nearby, hurriedly advised: “Your Highness, this is already the Empress’s mercy. You are a prince of golden noble status – your dignity cannot be damaged. It’s just the time of one incense stick; she can endure it. These days you’ve seen His Majesty’s illness isn’t good. At this time, if you’re not harmonious with the Empress, how can His Majesty rest easy?”

Yi Lang turned and said: “Then why won’t the Empress see me?”

“Her Majesty… is attending to His Majesty…”

“Relay my message – I request an audience with the Empress.”

“This…”

The servants standing at the Hall entrance all hesitated upon hearing this. Li Bingbi glanced at Wang Zhong and said: “Why don’t you go ask Her Majesty if she might show more mercy?”

“This isn’t about mercy.”

Yi Lang said directly: “I wish to question the Empress.”

Wang Zhong nearly lost his balance hearing this. Yang Wan endured her pain and called to Yi Lang: “Your Highness, come back.”

Yi Lang’s shoulders moved but he didn’t turn around.

Yang Wan pressed her lips together and reached out to grasp Yi Lang’s sleeve, saying in a trembling voice: “Your Highness, come back. This servant has something to tell you.”

Yi Lang finally turned back, “Aunt, I did nothing wrong. You shouldn’t be punished for me.”

Yang Wan nodded and said softly to him, “Aunt understands, but Your Highness, if you question the Empress in your position as Crown Prince, are you confident you can protect this servant’s life when Her Majesty becomes enraged?”

“I…”

Yi Lang’s ears reddened, “I don’t want to implicate Aunt…”

Yang Wan said firmly: “This isn’t implication.”

“But…”

“This isn’t implication.”

Yang Wan looked into Yi Lang’s eyes and repeated it once more.

“Does Your Highness understand?”

Yi Lang nodded with partial comprehension.

Yang Wan released Yi Lang’s sleeve, “Your Highness, stand properly and don’t speak.”

Seeing Yang Wan had calmed Yi Lang, Wang Zhong finally relaxed and gestured for someone to check the incense. He lowered his head and said to Yang Wan: “His Majesty’s illness is severe and the Empress is worried. Today when she came in and saw the Prince dozing by His Majesty’s bed, how could she not be angry? We all advised her, and that’s why she showed mercy, only punishing the attending servant for kneeling for one incense stick and temporarily suspending the Prince’s attendance. Your Highness and Aunt Wan should slowly consider and properly receive the Empress’s benevolence.”

Yang Wan didn’t respond.

Kneeling on the stone threshold was a common punishment for palace servants. Yang Wan had seen Li Yu endure it, but she didn’t know that though the threshold seemed not high when one’s full body weight pressed down, it felt like knives cutting into the knees.

She reached out to support herself on the doorframe, trying to ease the pain in her knees. Wang Zhong saw her improper posture and said darkly: “Aunt Wan, this shows disrespect to Her Majesty.”

Yang Wan raised her head to look at him and suddenly called his name directly, “Wang Zhong.”

Wang Zhong started.

Yang Wan’s voice suddenly turned cold.

“Don’t push your luck with me.”

Wang Zhong was speechless again.

Yang Wan straightened up, “Don’t stand before me and the Prince.”

Wang Zhong instinctively looked toward Yi Lang and saw him coldly staring back. He couldn’t help but cough and slowly moved behind the door.

Yang Wan closed her eyes, trying her best to distract herself from the pain.

The cold rose from the ground. Yi Lang stood behind her and quietly supported her arm.

“Your Highness, just stand properly.”

Yi Lang shook his head, pressing his lips together as he watched Yang Wan.

Yang Wan smiled at him and said nothing more.

Qingmeng and the others stared anxiously at the incense. The strong wind made it burn quickly.

When the final section of ash fell into the burner, Qingmeng hurried over to help Yang Wan up.

The stagnant blood in her knees suddenly rushed forth, making Yang Wan’s vision go dark with pain. She managed to stand straight and said to Wang Zhong: “Please relay to the Empress that this servant will take good care of the Crown Prince.”

She then took Yi Lang’s hand and said gently: “Come, let’s return with Aunt.”

“Mm.”

Yi Lang nodded, and together with Qingmeng and the others, supported Yang Wan as they slowly walked toward Chengqian Palace.

Far from the Hall of Mental Cultivation’s entrance, Yi Lang finally said softly: “Aunt… I didn’t do anything wrong today.”

Yang Wan lowered her head and said: “I know. Your Highness has always been a child who shows proper reverence.”

Yi Lang looked up, “Then why did the Empress today…”

“Because everyone has fears, and Your Highness is also someone who inspires fear in others.”

Yi Lang didn’t fully understand these words.

Just as he was about to ask further, they suddenly saw a group from the Eastern Depot approaching from the direction of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Seeing Yang Wan walking with difficulty, Deng Ying quickly signaled the others to stop, and walked alone to Yang Wan, looking down at her legs: “What happened?”

Yang Wan shook her head and said directly: “The Empress has suspended the Prince’s attendance on the Emperor.”

Deng Ying looked down at Yi Lang, then raised his head to ask: “When did this happen?”

Yang Wan replied: “Just today. Not only can the Prince no longer enter the Hall, but the Six Palaces’ attendance was also suspended yesterday. Deng Ying, you understand what I’m saying, right?”

Deng Ying nodded.

“I understand.”

Yang Wan looked behind Deng Ying, “What is that?”

Deng Ying said: “Cabinet memorials.”

“It will be difficult to submit them now.”

“Yes, but they concern northern frontier military matters and must be submitted.”

“Then wait here a while. I’ll return to Chengqian Palace first, and you come over in half an hour.”

“What are you going to do?”

Yang Wan limped forward a step, “Learn from mistakes – we can’t both suffer losses, can we?”