HomeCrane NotesChapter 70: Sky Azure Like Jade (Part 8)

Chapter 70: Sky Azure Like Jade (Part 8)

After daybreak, news of Consort Ning’s overnight imprisonment in Jiao Garden spread throughout the Six Palaces.

Noble Consort Jiang entered Yangxin Hall at the morning watch but was scolded and dismissed within the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Later, the Empress sent someone to ask Emperor Zhennin if Yi Lang should be temporarily moved to the Central Palace. When this news reached Chengqian Palace, all the palace servants were terrified.

Official histories didn’t record who raised Yi Lang after Consort Ning, though unofficial histories had several versions. Since the exact time when Consort Ning fell from the emperor’s favor was unknown, the duration others spent raising Yi Lang was also unclear. One account claimed that after Yi Lang began his formal studies, the emperor personally raised him. Another version stated that from Zhennin’s thirteenth year onward, the Empress raised him.

Neither account had much historical evidence to support it, nor much research value.

But for Yang Wan, this matter concerned the life and death of both Consort Ning and Yang Lun.

After hearing about the Empress wanting to take him to the Central Palace, though Yi Lang said nothing, he sat on his bed refusing to take medicine or sleep.

Unable to comfort him, Heyu came out to tell Yang Wan: “If the Empress takes His Highness away, our Consort, even if not dead, will surely die.”

Just as she finished speaking, a eunuch suddenly rushed to report: “Record Keeper Yang, His Majesty summons you to Yangxin Hall for questioning.”

Yang Wan leaned against the screen and responded coldly: “Understood.”

Heyu frowned, “Being summoned to Yangxin Hall at this time – is it misfortune… or fortune?”

Yang Wan straightened up, releasing her arms, “Whether fortune or misfortune, it must end in fortune for me. I’ll go change clothes.”

As she walked out, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask: “Was an Imperial Physician also summoned to Yangxin Hall today?”

“It seems so…”

Heyu recalled: “The Imperial Pharmacy was unsettled early this morning – first for His Majesty, then for us here, and later I heard Noble Consort had an incident too…”

“Good. Heyu, go find me a bamboo strip.”

“Bamboo strip… what kind?”

“Just find one. I don’t know if it will work, but let’s try.”

Yang Wan was brought to Yangxin Hall at dusk.

The night rain had just cleared.

Yang Wan knelt before the imperial desk in the side study. Incense smoke drifted silently past her eyes. The Imperial Physician stood beside Yang Wan, softly urging: “Your Majesty, this medicine is already an hour late.”

The emperor waved his hand, “Leave it. Go check on the Crown Prince at Chengqian Palace and report back to Us.”

“Yes.”

The Imperial Physician handed the medicine bowl to an attendant and retreated from Yang Wan’s side with a bow.

Only then did the emperor raise his head to look at Yang Wan, “How is the Crown Prince’s appetite today?”

Yang Wan replied: “He had a bowl of porridge at noon.”

“How did he eat it?”

“He swallowed slowly but finished it all.”

“Good.”

The emperor lifted his hand slightly, “You may rise.”

Yang Wan performed a grateful bow and stood as told.

The medicine’s scent in the room was somewhat pungent. The emperor himself found it unpleasant and called out: “Hu Xiang, come take this medicine away. We won’t drink it now.”

“Wait.”

The emperor glanced at Yang Wan.

“What do you wish to say?”

Yang Wan bent her knee: “If Your Majesty won’t take the medicine, the Crown Prince also won’t dare take his.”

The emperor was startled, his ears gradually flushing red.

“Is this true?”

“Yes… His Highness once admonished your servant – to only pity my elder sister without thinking of Your Majesty’s pain is truly disloyal.”

As she spoke, she extended her palm toward Emperor Zhennin.

Emperor Zhennin looked down at it, “Yi Lang disciplined you?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think yourself?”

Yang Wan withdrew her hand and lowered her head: “Your servant is foolish – once disciplined, I remember the lesson…”

She raised her hand to wipe away tears as she spoke.

The emperor sighed, “Consort Ning taught this child very well.”

He pointed at the medicine in Hu Xiang’s hands and said to Yang Wan: “Bring the medicine to Us.”

“Yes.”

Emperor Zhennin took the medicine, raised his head to drink it all, set down the bowl, and waved away the attendant offering preserved fruits. He said to Yang Wan: “Your sister, when she was well, told Us that you were very good to Yi Lang, and Yi Lang was willing to be close to you. Now that We have suddenly sent Consort Ning away, Yi Lang is likely unsettled. You need not return to the Department of Palace Affairs – stay in Chengqian Palace to serve the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, your servant thanks Your Majesty for this grace.”

Emperor Zhennin lowered his head and added: “But remember, you are not a consort – you can only serve him and be disciplined by him as today, not raise him.”

“Your servant understands.”

Emperor Zhennin nodded, “Go back and tell Yi Lang that his royal father has taken the medicine, let him rest.”

“Yes.”

Yang Wan rose and withdrew from Yangxin Hall, raising her hand to wipe away the tears she had forced out before the emperor.

She walked down the moon terrace with folded hands. Heyu and others came to meet her, asking: “What did His Majesty say?”

Yang Wan shook her head, “When you return, take good care of His Highness. Tell him not to worry, His Majesty hasn’t ordered him to move palaces. Ask him to take his medicine properly and rest early.”

Heyu looked at Yang Wan’s hands, “Let me apply some medicine for you when we return.”

Yang Wan said: “Just crush some mint leaves to rub on it. No one can speak of this – if it must be mentioned, only say His Highness ordered the beating, understand?”

The next day, Emperor Zhennin rejected the Central Palace’s request and personally wrote an imperial decree to comfort Yi Lang.

Deng Ying came from Yangxin Hall to deliver the decree. Yi Lang hadn’t woken yet, and Yang Wan sat alone on the stone steps behind the screen wall, supporting her forehead lost in thought.

“Yang Wan.”

“Here.”

She had been mentally tense since yesterday – hearing someone call her name, she instinctively started to stand.

“Slowly.”

Deng Ying reached out to support her.

Only upon hearing Deng Ying’s voice did Yang Wan relax.

“Oh, it’s you…”

“Yes, why are you sitting here?”

Yang Wan pressed her temples, “Yesterday everyone in Chengqian Palace was unsettled. I didn’t have Heyu and the others take the night watch. I kept watch inside for a while, but then felt stifled and came out. Why have you come to Chengqian Palace?”

“I’ve come to deliver an imperial decree.”

Yang Wan struggled to stand again, “What decree?”

Deng Ying crouched down: “Don’t panic, it’s His Majesty’s handwritten letter comforting the young prince.”

“Oh…”

Yang Wan exhaled, fixing her slightly disheveled hair, “Then I’ll go bring Yi Lang to receive it.”

“No need.”

Deng Ying handed the decree to an accompanying attendant, gesturing for them to withdraw behind the screen wall.

“His Majesty gave verbal instructions that His Highness need not perform the ceremonial bow. Since His Highness hasn’t risen, I’ll wait here.”

Yang Wan looked at Deng Ying crouching before her, “Would you like to sit with me for a while?”

Deng Ying smiled, “Let me stand.”

“I want someone to lean on for a moment.”

“What if the young prince sees?”

“Let him scold me.”

Seeing her expression, Deng Ying no longer refused.

He rose and sat beside Yang Wan.

Yang Wan turned her head, gently resting her face on Deng Ying’s shoulder.

Deng Ying let her lean against him, lifting his head to look at the ridge tiles on the front hall’s roof, speaking softly: “Many eyes will be watching this place in the future. You and I must be more careful.”

Yang Wan followed Deng Ying’s gaze.

“You already know about His Majesty rejecting the Empress’s request?”

“Yes. I heard His Majesty questioned you yesterday – what did you say?”

Yang Wan shook her head, “Nothing at all.”

After speaking, she fell silent for a moment, quietly catching her breath as she leaned on Deng Ying’s shoulder.

The wind carried rain-scented air against their faces, cool and comfortable.

“Where did you go yesterday?”

“To the western burial grounds to watch a burial.”

Yang Wan was silent for a while before asking: “Has Secretary Zheng been buried?”

“Not yet. His uncle provided a coffin – I can only bring him in today.”

Yang Wan pressed her lips together, “I watched him die yesterday. He was looking at me as he died. Now when I recall that look in his eyes, I can’t sleep at all.”

Deng Ying turned his head to look at Yang Wan.

Her face was somewhat damp – whether from tears or the rain was unclear.

Deng Ying raised his sleeve to gently wipe her face. She didn’t avoid it, her shoulders trembling unconsciously.

Deng Ying lowered his sleeve and asked softly: “Have you been crying?”

Yang Wan shook her head, “What right do I have to cry?”

She took a breath and said, “Deng Ying.”

“Mm?”

“When His Majesty questioned me, I thought I could change something, that I could help you, help my sister, help Secretary Zheng. But in the end, I helped no one. I feel like such a presumptuous fool…”

“How do you know you didn’t help them?”

Yang Wan gave a short laugh.

“Secretary Zheng is dead, sister is imprisoned – what help did I give them?”

Deng Ying shook his head, “Without you, Secretary Zheng would have been executed by slow slicing by the Northern Investigation Office, Consort Ning would have been secretly granted death, and the young prince would have forever lost the emperor’s heart, given to other consorts to raise. The outcomes may look the same, but the degree of tragedy and the wounds to people’s hearts are different.”

He looked down at Yang Wan’s hands as he spoke, “Just like back then in the torture chamber at South Lake – if you hadn’t linked pinky fingers with me, telling me you would come find me, asking me to wait for you, my whole life might have been much harder.”

Yang Wan sniffled, “Do you think I changed anything?”

“Yes.”

Deng Ying nodded, “The Great Ming Dynasty has existed for nearly a hundred years. In a hundred years of imperial rule, talents have emerged in every generation, remarkable figures too numerous to count. Yet never has anyone been able to use their power alone to clear political ailments and save the common people. At most they are like Yang Zixi, knowing the difficulty but pressing forward, striving to treat one layer of the illness. As for someone like me…”

He looked at Yang Wan, smiling gently, “I told you before that I don’t want those who serve the country to die tragically, but in truth, Wanwan, I’ve done less than you. You know where the court’s root problems are tangled, and without needing grand gestures, you can unpick them. If you still blame yourself despite this, how should I view myself?”

He let out a soft breath after speaking, “When Lord Yang returns, His Majesty will likely reward him. If you want to leave the palace, let him request permission to take you home.”

“I have no home.”

She suddenly responded, then quickly added after realizing: “I promised sister I would take good care of Yi Lang. I will watch over him, and you too.”

Deng Ying raised his hand to support Yang Wan’s chin, letting her lean more comfortably.

“Don’t watch over me. Let me watch over you and the young prince.”

Having heard these words, Yang Wan clenched her fingers behind Deng Ying’s back.

“Deng Ying, when I watch over him, I’m just a palace servant tending to a prince’s daily needs. But if you watch over him, in others’ eyes, you’ll be like He Yixian, involved in the next reign’s factional struggles.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Deng Ying!”

Yang Wan interrupted him, standing up directly, “Even if you enter factional struggles for Yi Lang’s sake, Yi Lang won’t treat you well! Zhang Cong, Huang Ran, and the others have been teaching him since he was very young to avoid eunuch disasters and strictly control palace eunuchs. He’s not the current emperor – when he grows up, he won’t leave you any room to maneuver!”

Deng Ying looked up at Yang Wan, “I know.”

Yang Wan’s gaze softened, “Then why…”

“The Ceremonial Office won’t willingly watch the young prince ascend the throne, and His Majesty’s connection to He Yixian runs too deep – who can say if he will sway imperial will? If I retreat at this time, the young prince and people like Yang Zixi will suffer even deeper persecution.”

Yang Wan’s voice trembled, “I understand everything you’re saying, but…”

“Are you worried others won’t understand?”

“No.”

Yang Wan grew somewhat anxious. “They all understand, but they consider themselves above you and won’t lower themselves to acknowledge you.”

“That’s not necessary, Wanwan.”

He smiled gently at Yang Wan, “I’ve always agreed that for politics to be clear, servants must be strictly regulated and not allowed to interfere in politics. It’s only because politics isn’t clear now that I can’t care about such things. I want to act first, and afterward, I’ll give up this position. You don’t like seeing me wear these official robes, right?”

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