Deng Ying turned to walk to the doorway, but just as he was about to step down, Yang Wan blocked his path.

“I want to go too.”

Deng Ying shook his head. “You’re a female official. Meeting with outside officials privately is a serious offense.”

Yang Wan moved behind him, her plain clothes thin. When she spoke, Deng Ying could feel her breath falling on his shoulder through the fabric.

“I’ll just follow you. I won’t say anything.”

Deng Ying dared not turn around. “Why do you want to involve yourself in these matters?”

She maintained her usual light tone: “Because I have a big heart.”

Whether this was true or not didn’t matter.

Everyone is forced to walk alone in life. If another person is willing to walk alongside you without questioning or doubting anything, that is heaven’s greatest blessing.

Deng Ying didn’t know how much more grace his broken body could receive. If possible, he didn’t want much else – he only hoped that before she found her destined path and fulfilled her duties, she could continue to visit him when she had time, accompany him for a while, not asking for any particular length of time, just going as far as they could.

Inside the Grand Hall of the Inner Cabinet, Zhang Cong was forced by Yang Lun to sit behind the desk.

Eight bronze lamps burned for illumination in the hall. Even with the doors open for ventilation, it was still so hot that people were drenched in sweat. Sweat ran down Yang Lun’s forehead, face, and neck, seeping into his inner garments.

Zhang Cong’s face was also covered in sweat. He wiped his face and sat up straight. “It’s already too late. Do you two, master and student, think I didn’t want to save Zhou Congshan? Earlier, I earnestly advised those young men at the Censorate not to jointly petition again. Did anyone listen? Now that the Northern Commanding Guard is going to execute people, they finally know fear and dread. What use is that?”

Yang Lun said, “Did the Elder not know about Deputy Zhang’s memorial condemning the Tongjia Academy?”

Zhang Cong slapped his thigh. “Even if I knew, what could I do? You know now too, but can only vent your anger at me, right? Besides, loyalty to the ruler comes before filial piety! I have no say in the Northern Commanding Guard’s affairs!”

The sweat on Yang Lun’s back suddenly turned cold.

Bai Huan moved the bronze lamp beside him and stood up, walking behind Yang Lun. “Is it just Zhou Congshan alone who will be executed, or several people?”

Yang Lun turned his head. “According to the message from Secretary Zheng, the imperial edict names Zhou Congshan and others including Zhao Pingling, ten people in total. But the Northern Commanding Guard has been torturing people for days – over twenty have already died in the imperial prison. His Majesty hasn’t summoned the Inner Cabinet for discussion yet. It seems there’s no room for change.”

Bai Yuyang added from the side: “The bodies were transferred from the Ministry of Justice to their families today. When the families came to identify the bodies…”

He couldn’t continue speaking. “It was too brutal. That eighteen-year-old Zhao Pingsheng, when they carried him out… he was just a pile of minced flesh! Barely recognizable as human.”

After hearing their words, Bai Huan tilted his head back and closed his eyes, remaining silent for a long while. Suddenly he began coughing violently. He stumbled forward several steps, his eyes reddening, and vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, immediately collapsing onto the desk.

The writing implements on the desk are scattered across the floor.

Bai Yuyang, forgetting about the others present, cried out in shock: “Father!”

Everyone in the hall was startled by the pool of blood on the floor, except for Yang Lun, who reacted quickly and called out loudly: “Quickly summon someone from the Imperial Pharmacy!”

“Zixi…”

Bai Huan’s throat felt like it had swallowed burning coals, his voice hoarse.

He coughed up another mouthful of blood and waved his hand at everyone: “Don’t panic. This minister is fine.”

Then he reached out a trembling hand to Yang Lun and called again: “Zixi…”

Yang Lun hurried to the front of the desk. “Student is here.”

Bai Huan grasped his hand. “Tomorrow… you and I will go to the Censorate to see Inspector Liu. Nothing else needs to be said…”

No one spoke until Zhang Cong said: “There’s no need to deliberately go see Liu and Huang. The Inner Cabinet only received Inspector Liu’s memorial; the other co-signers have all fallen silent. We can temporarily hold this memorial in the Cabinet. Elder, you’re advanced in years – you must take care of your health.”

Bai Huan gave a coughing laugh. “Yes, this minister is advanced in years. I should take care of my health.”

As he spoke, he gripped his sleeve, took up a brush and paper, and wrote a memorial.

Then he stood and called out: “Is the ceremonial attendant from the Directorate of Ceremonial outside?”

The eunuch attendant from the Directorate of Ceremonial quickly stood at attention by the door.

“What are the Elder’s instructions?”

Bai Huan beckoned to him: “Come in, take this memorial to His Majesty. Tell him this old minister knows his crime. This minister is at the Gate of Supreme Harmony, asking His Majesty’s forgiveness, requesting punishment and severe reprimand.”

Having finished speaking, he put down his brush, straightened his official hat with trembling hands, and then stumbled alone toward the outside of the hall.

Yang Lun and Bai Yuyang tried to follow and support him, but Bai Huan shook them off. “None of you… follow me!”

“Father…”

“Listen to me!”

No one in the hall dared speak again. They gathered at the door frame, watching as this over-seventy-year-old Chief Minister of the Inner Cabinet stumbled alone into the night.

Deng Ying and Yang Wan were standing outside the grand hall.

Dusk had fallen completely, with wind whistling all around and shadows flickering.

Deng Ying watched as Bai Huan walked step by step toward him. He was about to bow when Bai Huan spoke:

“Do you… hate this minister very much?”

Deng Ying remained silent.

Bai Huan drew a breath and asked again, “Your teacher died in the Ministry of Justice prison. Do you hate me?”

After speaking these words, his gaze moved subtly, clearly hiding both hope and doubt.

Deng Ying closed his eyes and replied evenly:

“Deng Ying wouldn’t dare.”

Hearing this, Bai Huan gave a bitter laugh. “Your teacher was right. Without testing it with his life, I truly didn’t know what kind of heart you were offering me.”

He finished speaking and patted Deng Ying’s shoulder.

“Director Deng, the Tongjia Academy was condemned because of you, but they died because of me. It was my stubborn self-righteousness, and my failure to recognize others’ wisdom. All guilt lies with me. You needn’t blame yourself too much. If in the future Director Deng hears cutting remarks about this, this minister hereby apologizes to you.”

Having said this, he raised his hand, breathing heavily, and bowed to Deng Ying.

Deng Ying quickly knelt and prostrated himself. “Senior Bai, please don’t do this.”

Bai Huan paid no attention to his words and actions, maintaining his bow with raised arms until it was complete.

Deng Ying raised his head, looking at Bai Huan bowing before him, his heart filled with great anguish.

It was also in this place that Bai Huan had once told him, “Don’t disgrace my best student.”

Yet today, he was bowing to him.

Deng Ying had originally forced himself to sever this master-student relationship, but that tiny possibility seeping through the cut had shattered the prison he had built for himself. Yet he knew deeply that even without those constraints, this was a step he absolutely could not take.

“I beg the Senior not to treat this servant this way.”

He used the self-reference of a servant to force himself to stay clear-headed.

Bai Huan straightened up, but the long bow had made him dizzy, and his body lurched forward uncontrollably.

Yang Wan, seeing Deng Ying kneeling, quickly stepped forward to support Bai Huan.

Bai Huan glanced at her from the side but said nothing.

He merely gently brushed aside Yang Wan’s arm and continued looking down at Deng Ying.

Master and student remained thus, one kneeling and one standing, in speechless silence.

After a long while, Bai Huan finally sighed: “It’s fortunate that back then, he didn’t hand you over to me.”

Having said this, he slowly walked past him, crossed the Hall of Military Glory, and walked toward the Gate of Supreme Harmony.

Yang Lun followed from behind, stopping beside Deng Ying. “What did you say to the teacher? Why did he bow to you?”

Deng Ying remained kneeling without moving.

Yang Lun raised his voice, “What exactly did you say!”

Deng Ying put his hand on the ground and said softly: “Master Yang, could you please not speak?”

Yang Lun was startled.

“I…”

Yang Wan spoke up: “Why are you shouting? Can’t you see he’s holding back his pain?”

She then helped Deng Ying up, pulling him behind her, and looked up at Yang Lun: “With all this chaos, did something happen at the Tongjia Academy?”

Yang Lun was surprised. “How did you know?”

Yang Wan looked at Bai Huan’s retreating figure. “Just now… Minister Bai mentioned it.”

Yang Lun looked at Deng Ying, hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice: “I know there were people at Tongjia Academy who associated with you. Don’t be too distressed when you hear this. Today the Commanding Guard presented charges against Zhou Congshan and others to His Majesty, including conspiracy with the Deng faction and insulting the sovereign. Zhou Congshan and ten others have been sentenced to beheading, to be carried out after autumn. As for the others… some are sentenced to exile and some to imprisonment, but I suspect Zhang Luo won’t let these people live until the Ministry of Justice takes over.”

After hearing this, Deng Ying couldn’t help but choke. “The two young masters of the Zhao family, are they still alive?”

Yang Lun said: “Zhao Pingsheng… is already dead. His brother Zhao Pingling is among the ten to be executed.”

Deng Ying asked, suppressing his grief: “Is there no way out?”

Yang Lun shook his head, looking toward the Gate of Supreme Harmony. “It depends on whether the teacher’s plea for punishment can dispel His Majesty’s anger.”

Deng Ying turned around to look at Bai Huan, kneeling alone before the Gate of Supreme Harmony.

He understood how difficult this kowtow was for Bai Huan.

This was not just a minister admitting error and begging forgiveness from the emperor after a political struggle – it was also his apology to the more than eighty people of Tongjia Academy. Compared to the former, the latter was what truly broke one’s heart and spirit.

“Master Yang.”

Yang Lun had also been lost in thought, but hearing Deng Ying call him, he came back to himself.

“Speak.”

Deng Ying turned around. “Does His Majesty know about Deputy Zhang executing the academy students at the Eastern Depot?”

Yang Lun said: “According to Secretary Zheng, His Majesty only approved the execution of Zhou Congshan and over ten others. Since he showed mercy to the remaining students, he shouldn’t have secretly ordered Zhang Luo to execute them. For the specifics, you can ask Secretary Zheng yourself.”

He finished speaking and gave a long sigh. “These students were so innocent, dying so brutally – it was meant as a warning to those in the Six Offices and Censorate. Fortunately these past few days, no one has dared to jointly petition again. Well, I can’t say too much more to you here.”

As he was about to leave, he remembered something.

“Yang Wan.”

“Mm?”

“These matters are not for you to inquire about.”

Yang Wan nodded. “I understand.”

After Yang Lun left, Deng Ying still stood silently outside the Hall of Military Glory.

Yang Wan gently tugged at his sleeve, and only then did he lower his head. “Did I make you stand too long?”

Yang Wan shook her head.

“You have a leg injury but didn’t say anything. I’m not tired.”

Deng Ying turned around. “Let me escort you back to the Fifth Division.”

“No need. I’ll escort you back to your duty room. Your feet shouldn’t walk too much.”

As she spoke, she took his hand and walked toward the moat, saying as they walked: “Deng Ying, you didn’t speak just now. What were you thinking about?”

Deng Ying didn’t answer immediately.

Hearing his silence, Yang Wan continued: “Haven’t figured it out yet?”

Deng Ying nodded.

“Mm. I haven’t thought it through yet.”

Yang Wan turned back. “I told you before that I’m very afraid of Zhang Luo, and Master Yang and the others are very afraid too. Do you remember?”

“I remember.”

“I want to take back those words now.”

Deng Ying stopped walking. “Why?”

Yang Wan’s eyes grew moist as she let go of his hand: “I feel that because of those words, you’re going to do something you don’t want to do.”

Deng Ying was stunned, only now noticing that her eyes seemed to have reddened.

He hesitated for a moment but still walked closer to her, bending his knees to match her height. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just suddenly feeling a bit unhappy.”

“Is it because of me?”

Yang Wan suddenly raised her head. “Deng Ying, are you suffering because of me?”

Deng Ying was startled. “Why would you say that?”

Yang Wan pressed her lips together. “Crouch down a little more.”

Deng Ying didn’t know what she wanted to do, but he obediently lowered himself another few inches.

Unexpectedly, Yang Wan gently rested her head on his shoulder.

“Don’t move.”

“Alright…”

“Deng Ying, promise me, don’t do things you don’t want to do. Everyone has their path. Their life and death might seem related to you, but actually, they brought it upon themselves.”

Deng Ying looked down at Yang Wan and asked softly: “What if it’s something I want to do?”

Yang Wan bit her lip, trying her best to steady her voice. After a long while, she finally said:

“Then it’s the same – I’ll help you.”