HomeCrane NotesChapter 146: Silver Sand Pecking at Jade (Part 2)

Chapter 146: Silver Sand Pecking at Jade (Part 2)

“Proprietor, we’ve brought the water. Where should we pour it?”

The attendants called to Yang Wan from the corridor. Yang Wan finally let go of Deng Ying. “Pour it into the tub. Then go enjoy the hotpot – we have plenty of rabbit meat today.”

An attendant said, “Miss Yun went to find bath beans upstairs. We’re waiting to bring them to you.”

Yang Wan replied, “Tell her not to bother searching. I have some left in my room, which should be enough.”

“Ah, yes.”

The attendants poured in the hot water and left.

Yang Wan led Deng Ying into the room. A woven bamboo screen stood before the wooden bed. The water temperature was just right, releasing delicate white steam. Yang Wan turned and said, “The bath beans are in that small box. There’s not much left, but make do with it. I’ll go find you some clothes.”

With that, she went behind the screen.

Deng Ying gazed at Yang Wan’s bed. The mattress was thick and soft, covered with a damask quilt that seemed freshly starched, giving off a faint soap fragrance. Several books lay at the head of the bed, one still open, showing his former annotations on its pages.

A tall table stood beside the bed with a vase holding a nearly-fallen apricot blossom. Besides these, there were no other furnishings. Deng Ying removed his outer garment but wouldn’t sit on Yang Wan’s bed. He leaned against the wall, lowering his head to untie his waist towel and remove his outer trousers.

Yang Wan’s silhouette appeared on the screen, the person behind it barely covered by thin clothing.

A chill rose from the ground, creeping up Deng Ying’s undergarment legs. Along with his shiver came an instinctive sense of shame. But his heart remained steady.

This was, after all, Yang Wan’s chamber. As long as she was present, even if he were unclothed, he need not feel awkward.

“Deng Ying.”

“Yes.”

“Um… have you undressed?”

“Yes.”

“Then come over and take this.”

A hand extended from beside the screen, holding new undergarments.

“Your old clothes are sealed away by the city moat. I couldn’t bring them when I left. These are newly bought, though they’re not very soft. I’ve washed them several times, but they’re still not very comfortable.”

Deng Ying reached for the clothes. The hand lingered at the screen’s edge.

“Take your time bathing. You can soak for a while.”

“Wan’wan.”

Deng Ying looked at the hand on the screen. “Bathing like this… I’m afraid I’ll dirty your bed.”

“Then you’ll sleep in the place you’ve dirtied tonight, and I’ll wash it tomorrow.”

“I’ll wash it…”

“It’s fine, Deng Ying.”

The hand left the screen, though the voice stayed close. “If it gets dirty now, I’ll wash it. When you’re better, I’ll watch you do the washing.”

She gently patted the screen and turned away, saying:

“Go ahead and bathe. I’ll sit outside. When you’re done, we’ll go eat hotpot.”

The steaming rabbit meat hotpot drove away the early spring evening’s chill.

The setting sun’s remaining light fell into the courtyard as the wind gently stirred the grape vines on the wall. Among the cooking smells wafted the fragrance of paper and ink.

Chen Hua carefully watched the fire in the stove, occasionally poking it with a long stick. Song Yunqing patted his shoulder, “Go poke from the other side, don’t block the Superintendent’s seat.”

She then said to Deng Ying: “Superintendent, sit here where you won’t catch the wind or smoke. We’ll sit on that side.”

Deng Ying stood and smiled.

“No need, anywhere is fine for me.”

Chen Hua hurried to say: “Please come sit here. Your leg isn’t well, and Miss Wan specifically set up a stove here for you.”

Yang Wan came from the kitchen carrying vegetables. “My sister’s here, so he won’t dare take the honored seat. Let him sit wherever he wants – the stove can be moved.”

She pointed to the seat before her. “Come, sit.”

Deng Ying obediently sat down. Song Yunqing couldn’t help but laugh, “When I was still in the palace, everyone in the Imperial Dressing Bureau said that although the Superintendent was good-natured, he wasn’t easy to talk to. I thought so too then. But Yang Wan, with you, the Superintendent doesn’t argue at all.”

Yang Wan helped Song Yunqing arrange the bowls and chopsticks, smiling as she said: “If we’re talking about obedience, he can’t compare to Master Chen.”

Deng Ying and Chen Hua exchanged glances, then both looked away.

Chen Hua said: “I’m just simple and haven’t read much. Yunqing always makes sense, so in my confusion, I just listen.”

“Me too.”

Deng Ying added.

Chen Hua quickly said: “You can’t say that! You’ve studied extensively – you teach at the Inner School, no worse than the Hanlin Academy. You listen to Miss Wan because she’s good, and you like her in your heart…”

“Chen Hua.”

Song Yunqing snatched his chopsticks. “How can you know what the Superintendent thinks? If you know so much, you should be Superintendent.”

Chen Hua quickly shrank back onto his stool. “I couldn’t, I couldn’t. I won’t say more…”

Yang Wan sat down beside Deng Ying, noticing his ears had reddened at some point.

She couldn’t help but laugh, “You just can’t take such talk.”

Deng Ying quickly said to Song Yunqing: “It’s fine, let Master Chen speak.”

Chen Hua waved his hands, “I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.”

Yang Ni smiled, clasping her hands. “It’s been many years since we’ve been so at ease.”

Yang Wan poured her a cup of tea, saying softly, “I purposely set the pot outside so sister could see the moon.”

Yang Ni patted Yang Wan’s hand. “You even thought of that.”

“Yes.”

Yang Wan looked toward the green wall.

“Though the moon here isn’t as beautiful as in the banana garden and plum forest, this old green wall, when the moon climbs up and reflects off it, has its charm with its deep green glow.”

“Yes, tranquility is best.”

Song Yunqing said: “We’ve found tranquility now, but you and the Superintendent still can’t find peace.”

Hearing this, Chen Hua looked at the boiling soup and sighed. “That’s true… the inner court now… ah…”

He sighed and dipped a slice of rabbit meat in the water, and the pink meat instantly turned white, floating up and down in the pot.

Song Yunqing asked: “What’s wrong?”

Chen Hua shook his head.

Song Yunqing said: “You can’t leave people worried with unfinished words.”

Chen Hua picked up the cooked rabbit meat and placed it in his bowl but didn’t eat it immediately. Setting down his chopsticks, he said: “The cabinet ministers are purging the Ceremonial Office faction. Many old cases have been reopened, and quite a few people have been arrested this month.”

He looked at Deng Ying. “Superintendent, I hear you’re to take charge of the Ceremonial Office. Taking over at this critical moment is like picking up a hot potato fresh from the fire – it’ll be very difficult.”

Song Yunqing said: “You only see what’s happening in the palace. In my opinion…”

She held Yang Wan’s hand as she spoke. “What’s most worrying is outside.”

Chen Hua asked: “What’s happening outside?”

Song Yunqing lowered her head without speaking.

Chen Hua said in confusion: “I only know it’s quite tragic out there now. Master Zhang’s only son and the survivors from Tongjia Academy have come to the capital. Several literary societies outside the Prefecture have written many mourning articles. That final verse Professor Zhou of Tongjia Academy spoke at the execution ground, something about hoping… something about flesh and blood…”

Yang Wan continued: “May my flesh and blood fall to earth, paving a good path for those who follow. May my bones become trees, providing shade for future generations.”

“Yes, that’s it.”

Chen Hua pressed his lips together. “These lines were written in calligraphy by Li Qinglin of the Donglin School, and many people made rubbings of it. Ah… though this case was settled years ago, I heard it was truly tragic then. And Master Zhang’s case, they say it was a wrongful conviction too, all because the old… pfft! All because He Yixian wanted to cover up the corruption in the Porcelain District, which drove Master Zhang to his death.”

“Enough, enough.”

Song Yunqing cut him off. “Stop talking. The Superintendent hasn’t eaten anything, just listening to you go on about unhappy things. Come, Superintendent, have some rabbit meat.”

“Thank you.”

Deng Ying smiled as he accepted the rabbit meat Song Yunqing offered, lowering his head to take a bite.

Chen Hua dared not speak anymore, and the atmosphere at the table grew somewhat heavy.

Yang Wan ladled a bowl of hot soup for Deng Ying and looked up at Song Yunqing: “I’ve noticed since you took charge of the Inner Chamber, you’ve become more and more like Dresser Jiang.”

Song Yunqing sighed: “I’m sorry, Yang Wan. We were eating so nicely, and we’ve spoiled the Superintendent’s mood again.”

Yang Wan shook her head: “It’s fine. He’ll eat anything when he’s with me.”

Just as she finished speaking, Deng Ying lifted the soup bowl for a sip and finished all the rabbit meat in his bowl.

Song Yunqing finally relaxed. “We’ll wash the dishes later, Chen Hua and I.”

“No need. You still have much-unfinished work in the chamber. Go do your work, and sister will help me sort the yarn. I’ll wash the dishes.”

“Wan’wan, I’ll wash them.”

Yang Wan smiled: “What’s wrong with you today, always rushing to do chores?”

Deng Ying put down his bowl: “When I’m at your place…”

“Your hands should avoid cold water right now. If you want to help, you can stand beside me while I wash the dishes and talk to me.”

Yang Ni said: “Though spring has arrived, it feels like we’re celebrating the New Year, everyone eating and working together so cheerfully.”

Yang Wan poured vegetables into the pot. “Next New Year might be even more lively. I’ll invite brother and sister-in-law to make dumplings with us.”

Yang Ni nodded.

Some people want to become trees or paths beneath others’ feet. Some just want to be bridged, not for enlightenment, but to become hope. Yet as she said, everyone at the table carried their pain, but she was the most desperate among them.

Yang Ni looked at Yang Wan before her and said spontaneously: “Wan’er always manages to make everyone live happily.”

Chen Hua added: “Yes, Miss Wan. I was worried Yunqing would be devastated, but unexpectedly…”

“Yes.”

Song Yunqing said: “I was very sad before. Fortunately, I had this place, otherwise, I don’t know if I could have gone on living.”

Yang Wan picked some cooked vegetables for Deng Ying, smiling: “What else could we do?”

She looked at Deng Ying. “He’s always trying so hard to court death. If I didn’t know how to stay cheerful, I would have died from anger long ago.”

“Wan’wan, I…”

“Don’t speak.”

She pointed to his bowl. “Eat your vegetables, get your vitamins, so you don’t lose your hair.”

Sure enough, Deng Ying said no more and lowered his head to eat his vegetables.

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