Yang Wan prostrated herself, “This servant thanks Your Majesty.”

After speaking these words, her mind could no longer continue, and her elbows supporting her on the ground suddenly couldn’t lift her body.

The Emperor looked at her injuries and casually asked, “Has the Imperial Physician seen you?”

Yang Wan replied hoarsely, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. Yes, they have.”

Emperor Zhening nodded, “You understand well, knowing what should and shouldn’t be said, and your heart is loyal to the palace. I’ll decide to pardon you today. You’ve suffered wrongly, and I will have the Empress issue an edict to personally comfort you. If there are any other rewards you desire, you may tell Me now while I’m here.”

Though this sounded gentle, it was a trap, testing Yang Wan’s thoughts. If she answered even slightly wrong, all her previous efforts would be wasted.

Deng Ying watched Yang Wan anxiously, seeing her seemingly exhale before responding softly, “This servant dares not ask for rewards, only begs Your Majesty to allow this servant a few days’ rest.”

Hearing these words, the Emperor finally smiled, “I just said you were sensible, yet now you’re being so foolish. It seems the beating has hurt you badly. Looking at you makes Me quite sympathetic.”

Yang Wan, already struggling to support herself, simply raised her head slightly and kowtowed again.

“Your Majesty’s mercy overwhelms this servant.”

Emperor Zhening waved his hand, “Enough. Deng Ying.”

“This servant is here.”

“Go personally to the Department of Ceremonial Affairs and tell Director Jiang, it’s My wish that she recover in Chengrong Palace for half a month.”

“Yes.”

Emperor Zhening looked at the sky through the window, “What time is it?”

“Almost Chen hour (7-9 AM).”

“Have the Grand Secretariat’s memorials been submitted?”

Deng Ying said, “This servant will inquire at the Directorate of Ceremonial for Your Majesty.”

Emperor Zhening stood up and shook his sleeves, “No need. I’ll wait in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. As for this place of yours…”

He looked around, “It’s too cramped. Since those duty rooms on the west side are empty, incorporate them all into the Inner Eastern Depot. Deng Ying, from now on when the Inner Eastern Depot conducts inspections, if you encounter important cases, you may report directly to Me in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. No need to go through the Northern Command – you can arrest suspects and conduct interrogations yourselves. I will issue an edict about this through the Grand Secretariat, so both the Directorate and Depot will know.”

Deng Ying knelt and responded “Yes,” then raised his head and asked: “Your Majesty, may Zheng Yuejia be transferred to the Eastern Depot for internal investigation?”

Emperor Zhening looked out the window, rubbing his thumb in silence for a while, “Bring him back. He served Me once, and I don’t want him out there.”

After speaking, he seemed to sigh, “Go get him yourself. When he’s back, no need to see Me. As for how to handle him… I’ll think about it. You don’t need to say anything to him, just let him wait.”

“Bring him back.”

To Yang Wan’s ears, these words sounded like a master deciding to take back an abandoned dog – condescending and chilling.

She couldn’t help but turn to look at Deng Ying kneeling beside her. He kept his eyes lowered, prostrating himself before Emperor Zhening, “This servant thanks Your Majesty for your grace toward Zheng Yuejia.”

Grace?

What kind of grace was this?

Yang Wan looked at Deng Ying’s hands pressed against the ground, and his forehead touching the back of his hands. Dust from the ground had stained his robe sleeves, yet this man was far cleaner and gentler than the man standing before him. As Yang Wan watched, her eyes gradually reddened.

“Is Hu Xiang outside?”

Emperor Zhening lowered his head to arrange his sleeves and called out.

Hu Xiang quickly opened the door and responded.

“Return to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.”

Everyone inside and out knelt to see off the imperial presence.

After the imperial procession had gone far, Qin Wende stood and closed the main door.

The daylight dimmed again, and Yang Wan could no longer support herself. Her body swayed and collapsed.

Deng Ying quickly moved on his knees to catch her, supporting her back to let her lean against his chest.

Two days of recovery were completely undone in this one fall. Yang Wan lowered her head to see blood seeping from the wounds on her legs, instantly staining her trouser legs red.

“I tried my best today…”

She looked up at Deng Ying, who silently nodded at her.

“Deng Ying… if you’re ever in difficulty in the future, I will help you desperately, just like today.”

“I don’t need that. I just don’t want you to become like me.”

As he spoke, he bent down trying to roll up her trouser leg. Yang Wan gave a coughing laugh, “Don’t bother rolling it up, the wound has just reopened. You won’t be able to see it from the bottom.”

Deng Ying lowered his hands, “I’ll take you back to Chengrong Palace soon. Once there, we can call female physicians to properly treat your wounds. I haven’t taken good care of you these past few days.”

Yang Wan shook her head, “His Majesty has now given the Eastern Depot the western duty rooms and the power to detain and interrogate. You’ll be very busy in the coming days… Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine after resting for a few days.”

Deng Ying reached out to smooth her hair, damp with cold sweat, “I was already unforgivable before you, and now, I owe you a debt of gratitude as well.”

Yang Wan laughed softly, raising her hand to touch Deng Ying’s neck, her palm half on his collar and half on his exposed skin.

Deng Ying’s back stiffened, his fingers slowly squeezing his knees.

“I didn’t lie to you, did I? When I said I would help you, I definitely could.”

“Mm.”

He nodded.

“Deng Ying.”

“Yes?”

“Just continue doing what you want to do. No matter what others think, I see it all. As long as I’m alive, I’ll make sure you survive. Even if I’m too naive… even if I ultimately can’t achieve it, I’ll still be your posthumous defender.”

As she spoke, her fingers gently caressed Deng Ying’s neck.

This gentle caress caused an aching warmth to spread through his jaw.

He had previously thought that beneath the robes, above the flesh, he would lose every battle.

But at this moment, he sensed that Yang Wan didn’t want him to lose.

For Yang Wan, she could finally touch this man who once lived among papers, no longer with historical scrutiny and pity, but with warm affection.

“Let me carry you back to Chengrong Palace.”

“There’s no need…”

“Are you worried the young prince will blame me?”

Yang Wan didn’t answer.

“Don’t worry, Wan Wan. To be able to care for you, I can endure anything.”

After speaking, he gently lifted Yang Wan’s body, letting her temporarily lean against the chair leg while he stood up and crouched in front of her.

“Come.”

Yang Wan looked at Deng Ying’s back, “Walk slowly later. I was lying to you before – my wounds haven’t healed well, they hurt.”

“Alright, I’ll walk slowly. Come up first.”

Yang Wan coughed once, “Also, I’m not very light. If you…”

“Wan Wan.”

He interrupted her, then gently repeated: “Come up first.”

On this May morning, the palace servants had just swept yesterday’s rain-fallen leaves into piles scattered along the walls.

Yang Wan held onto Deng Ying’s neck, quietly resting on his shoulder.

He had once built this imperial city for the Emperor and knew every palace pathway and every hall intimately, but he understood that none of these bricks and plants belonged to him. Only now, with Yang Wan holding his neck as he walked step by step through the early summer imperial city, did he suddenly feel that those elegant features he had created had a real connection to him.

Deng Ying turned his head to look at Yang Wan’s face resting on his shoulder.

She seemed to have fallen asleep from exhaustion, but due to the pain, she couldn’t sleep peacefully. Yet her expression remained relaxed and gentle.

Deng Ying raised his head to look at the flowering branches on the palace walls and suddenly asked her softly.

“Wan Wan, do you want some flowers?”

Unexpectedly, the person on his back answered hazily, “I want a depot flower.”

Deng Ying didn’t know what a depot flower was.

But seeing her sweet, innocent smile after saying those words, he found himself smiling too.

By now, the servants of Chengrong Palace had received news of Yang Wan’s release and were crowding around Consort Ning at the palace gate. Imperial Physician Peng from the Imperial Pharmacy, along with two female physicians, were also waiting at the Chengrong Gate. Yi Lang tugged at Consort Ning’s sleeve and asked softly, “Imperial Mother, why are the female physicians here too?”

Consort Ning sighed, “Your aunt is injured. These next few days, you must be gentler and not disturb your aunt while she recovers.”

“Who hurt Aunt?”

Consort Ning looked at Yi Lang’s serious expression and silently shook her head.

He Yu said, “Your Grace, perhaps we should let the Record Keeper stay in the Western Side Hall. The east side is more spacious, but we servants are far away and might not be able to care for her properly.”

Consort Ning said, “No need to prepare the Side Hall – there’s no time anyway. When she returns, let her stay in my chambers.”

“Then where will Your Grace stay?”

“We’ll discuss that after I’ve cared for her for a few days. She must be frightened and feeling wronged.”

He Yu quickly said, “Record Keeper is Your Grace’s sister and has been so good to our young prince. How can our hearts not ache to see her suffer like this?”

Consort Ning nodded, “I know you all care. But I’m uneasy – let her stay with me.”

After speaking, she bent down to touch Yi Lang’s face, “When your aunt returns, don’t keep asking her questions. Let her rest well, understand?”

Yi Lang said, “Imperial Mother, was Aunt taken away because of the plot against Second Brother?”

Before Consort Ning could answer, He Yu had already gone down the steps.

“Superintendent Deng, please go slowly, let us help steady her.”

Consort Ning straightened up to look at the Chengrong Gate, seeing Deng Ying half-kneeling, supporting Yang Wan’s waist with his hand behind her, letting He Yu and others help Yang Wan down.

Yang Wan’s clothes were covered in blood stains, shocking to see from waist to thighs.

Consort Ning hurriedly lifted her skirts to go down, not daring to touch Yang Wan carelessly. “How… how did you become injured like this?”

Hearing Consort Ning’s voice, Yang Wan forced her eyes open, “Your Grace…”

“It’s alright, don’t speak if you’re in pain. Sister will take you inside.”

“It’s not painful… just looks frightening.”

As she spoke, she looked at Yi Lang, “You should take the young prince back, so as not to frighten him.”

Yi Lang said, “I’m not afraid.”

Yang Wan smiled palely, “Then you mustn’t cry when you see it later.”

“I won’t cry.”

After saying this, he glanced at Deng Ying, then looked up at Yang Wan again, “I’ll remember everything for Aunt.”

Deng Ying hadn’t stood up, keeping his head lowered as he addressed Yi Lang and Consort Ning: “This servant begs forgiveness from Your Grace and the prince.”

Before Consort Ning could speak, Yi Lang asked, “Did you save my aunt?”

Deng Ying straightened his back, “This servant dares not say so.”

“If you did, then you did. If you didn’t, then you didn’t. Superintendent Deng, just tell me directly.”

Deng Ying looked up at Yang Wan, and Yi Lang’s voice rose, “You don’t need to look at my aunt. She doesn’t want me to give you trouble. I’m not asking to trouble you, I just want to know clearly what you did.”

Deng Ying prostrated himself again, “This servant failed to take good care of the Record Keeper. Please punish this servant, young prince.”

Yi Lang lowered his head, “You don’t need to consider my dignity. Don’t beg forgiveness when you shouldn’t. Please stand up first.”