Yang Wan stood outside the door, listening to their conversation.

Deng Ying was discussing the “Benevolence” chapter from Volume Five of “Zhenguan Zhengyao.” He spoke of how in the seventh year of Zhenguan, Tang Taizong mourned Zhang Gongjin, the Governor of Xiangzhou, disregarding the inauspicious day, and how in the fifteenth year, Tang Taizong issued an edict to comfort sick soldiers. Yi Lang listened quietly to Deng Ying’s words, occasionally asking questions.

When Deng Ying left the study, the sky was overcast, and Chengqian Palace was already lit with lanterns.

Yang Wan waited for him at the bottom of the steps, arms crossed, smiling at him. “You’re amazing.”

Deng Ying was still unsteady on his feet, having to hold onto the corridor pillars while descending the steps.

Yang Wan extended her hand to support Deng Ying, watching the steps beneath his feet as she continued softly: “I’m not worthy of comparison.”

Deng Ying looked down at Yang Wan with a smile, “I heard you want to buy Qingbo House.”

“Did Qin Wende tell you?”

“Yes, why do you want to buy it?”

Yang Wan looked up: “Because it’s the voice of the Great Ming. Though at its strongest it might break, I still love it.”

The voice of the Great Ming.

It was the first time Deng Ying had heard someone use the term “voice” to describe popular literature – vivid, yet so precise it created a mental image that seemed almost cruel.

“Do you have enough money to buy and operate it?”

“Even if I asked you, it wouldn’t help.”

She took Deng Ying’s arm, “The money is from Sister and Yi Lang. I’m borrowing it and will pay it back later. You, as the Eastern Depot Superintendent, just help me protect it. Let it make money.”

Deng Ying nodded with a smile, responding with a soft “Alright.”

The two walked along the palace path, with Deng Ying, still recovering from his severe injuries, taking each step with difficulty.

Yang Wan looked up at the moon while walking and suddenly said: “At the end of this month, take me outside the palace.”

Deng Ying asked: “Where do you want to go?”

“I want to take you home for dinner.”

Deng Ying stopped, hesitating to speak.

Yang Wan turned back, “Are you afraid of Yang Zixi?”

“Yes.”

Deng Ying followed Yang Wan’s gaze toward the palace wall, “Perhaps before long, he’ll be interrogating me personally.”

“Why?”

“Next year, Hangzhou will implement new tax policies. The Ministry of Revenue has already started auditing the remaining school lands in Hangzhou.”

Yang Wan squeezed her fingers, “How will you handle it?”

Deng Ying shook his head, “Once Chushan Academy and Hutan Academy are investigated, the Directorate of Ceremonial will protect me.”

Yang Wan furrowed her brows upon hearing this, turning to face Deng Ying: “If the Directorate of Ceremonial protects you, what will happen to those who impeach you?”

Deng Ying remained silent.

Yang Wan looked at Deng Ying and said: “You must protect them.”

Deng Ying raised his hand to caress Yang Wan’s cheek, “Wan’er, when my injuries are better when I can sit for long periods, I’ll go home with you for dinner.”

Yang Wan lowered her head, her skin brushing against Deng Ying’s palm.

“Are you still in pain?”

Deng Ying stroked Yang Wan’s eye corner, shaking his head, “It’s been scabbed over for a long time. The medicine you gave me was very good.”

After the scabs formed and fell off, then the swelling subsided, Deng Ying’s injuries lasted until the deep winter of the thirteenth year of Zhenning.

During this time, Yi Lang was willing to let Deng Ying stay in his study, occasionally allowing the weakened Deng Ying to sit before him.

Starting from early December, the Hanlin Academy recommended an elderly scholar, Wang Linjiang, as the Crown Prince’s teacher. He began teaching Yi Lang “Zhenguan Zhengyao” from the beginning, and after the lessons, Yi Lang would review with Deng Ying.

When Deng Ying was present, Yang Wan rarely entered, and even when she did, it was only to bring them refreshments.

Once, she made noodles for the two men. Since Deng Ying couldn’t eat in front of Yi Lang, he sat on the corridor steps to eat.

To avoid spilling the soup, he carefully rolled up his sleeves, exposing his forearms in the cold night, eating slowly and deliberately, one bite at a time.

Yi Lang in the study would occasionally glance at Deng Ying but say nothing.

Yang Wan stood alone by the side window, watching these two men eating their noodles in silence before her. Though she stood by the cold window, her heart felt warm.

Pure as snow, without distant fragrance – Deng Ying was someone whose true heart could only be understood after becoming close to him.

Yang Wan saw in him a kind of sacrificial beauty, like the core of mono-aware aesthetics.

Rolling up the blinds on a winter day, seeing snow covering the ground, knowing it would soon turn to mud, yet still being moved by its self-consuming dedication to this moment of purity. He had no distant fragrance, unknown in the night, only to be fortunately encountered when raising a lantern and rolling up the blinds.

“All things are humble and without evil. That’s why Terajima Jutaro wrote: ‘Being born human, I am sorry.'”

Yang Wan wrote these words in her notebook.

That day, Yi Lang bestowed a winter garment upon Deng Ying.

The moon-white silk was lined with some unknown animal down – Yang Wan remembered, it was Deng Ying’s only bright-colored robe.

Wearing this winter garment, Deng Ying took Yang Wan out of the palace.

It was the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month when common people worshiped the Kitchen God. Every noble household hung red pouches to receive “flying notes” for good fortune.

Outside Guangji Temple, they were setting up mountain lanterns, twelve zhang high, with over a hundred gold and jade-colored lanterns hanging from them. Yang Wan looked up at the half-constructed lantern frame while walking, “I see they’re also setting up ao-mountain lanterns in the palace, the tallest one is even higher than this.”

Deng Ying nodded, “This year the palace has eight lanterns total. The largest one you saw is at Taihe Hall, sent by several Hangzhou officials. This one at Guangji Temple was also made by the inner court. Starting from New Year’s Eve, it will burn for eight days for the common people to enjoy.”

Yang Wan lowered her head: “One ao-mountain lantern costs a thousand gold.”

Just then, they heard Yang Lun’s voice from under the mountain lantern, “‘Xuanhe’s colored mountains bring joy to the people’ – even the Ministry of Rites would draft such things. The officials of the Ministry of Revenue, in years of famine, I’d nearly kneel at the office gate. Who can afford such joy?”

Xiao Wen, standing behind him, quickly grabbed his arm, “These words frighten me just hearing them. His Majesty wishes to share joy with the people, making these ao-mountain lanterns. We should just watch. Today Jing’er is released from prison, and Wan’er is coming home. I know you work at the Ministry of Revenue, and seeing such extravagance displeases you, but no matter how upset you are, at least endure it today. Wan’er suffered such serious injuries in the prison during autumn, while you were in Hangzhou we couldn’t inquire about anything. If you don’t feel guilty, I do. I don’t manage anything, but today’s opera and wine expenses, I must let Wan’er have one happy day at home.”

At the mention of Yang Wan, Yang Lun’s expression changed, “When did she say she’d come?”

Xiao Wen said: “She said before chen time… Eh?”

As she spoke, she had already spotted Yang Wan in the street market. She hurriedly lifted her skirts and went with the maids to meet her. When she reached them and saw Deng Ying standing beside Yang Wan, she quickly began to bow in the manner of a married woman, but Yang Lun caught her arm, “You have a title.”

Xiao Wen felt embarrassed.

Deng Ying stepped back and bowed to Yang Lun, “Lord Yang.” Then he returned Xiao Wen’s greeting, “Deng Ying pays respects to the Lady.”

Seeing him bow, Yang Wan also bowed to Yang Lun and Xiao Wen.

Xiao Wen quickly helped Yang Wan up, “Didn’t you say chen time? Why so early?”

Yang Wan replied: “Today the palace worships the Kitchen God. The young prince has no lessons and was taken by the Empress early to eat kitchen candy. I had nothing to do, so I asked Deng Ying to bring me out early.”

Xiao Wen held Yang Wan’s hand tightly, “I haven’t seen you for almost two years. Since our Lady became unwell, the old madam’s health collapsed from crying. Now she’s not clear-minded, calling your and the Lady’s names every day. We told her the Lady’s name couldn’t be spoken, so she just kept mentioning you. Day after day asking me if you’re married, the Zhang family…”

Yang Lun coughed.

Xiao Wen regretted her words, “Ah, I’m such a muddle-head, I’ll say no more.”

Yang Wan held Xiao Wen’s hand with a smile, “I’m doing very well in the palace.”

“Well is good.”

Xiao Wen pressed her eyes corners, “It’s very cold outside, let’s go in.”

Yang Wan agreed, turned back to look at Deng Ying, “Come on.”

Deng Ying smiled and nodded at Yang Wan, but didn’t stay close to her, walking a few steps behind Yang Lun, following the servants through the gate.

Yang Lun, hands behind his back, asked Deng Ying, “I want to ask you something.”

“Yes.”

Yang Lun coughed, “Yesterday the Ministry of Justice went to the Northern Courier Station to retrieve files, the Cabinet saw them too. Zhang Cong’s crime was listed as private dealings with the inner court. Why was such a charge suddenly brought?”

Deng Ying asked in return, “Why are you asking me?”

Yang Lun stopped walking, “He was the only one in the Cabinet who opposed implementing the new policy, and at this time he suddenly goes to prison. What am I supposed to think? And this charge is truly well chosen – private dealings with the inner court – instantly become a capital case… Heh… Even the Donglin faction has nothing to say about it.”

Deng Ying looked at Yang Wan, who was chattering away with Xiao Wen ahead, “Yang Wan did it.”

Yang Lun raised his eyebrows, “Wan’er?”

He looked at Yang Wan in surprise, “She’s treating the Great Ming’s government like a woman’s game!”

“Yang Zixi.”

Deng Ying suddenly called out Yang Lun’s formal name.

Yang Lun was startled, and before he could speak, Deng Ying continued: “When did you become so arrogant that you can’t even accommodate your sister?”

Yang Lun retorted: “When did I not accommodate her? I just don’t want her playing with fire and getting burned.”

“If she hadn’t done this, Noble Consort Ning’s preface to ‘Five Worthies’ would have been printed at Qingbo House. Then when His Majesty became enraged, the Northern Courier Station would have arrested Yang Jing and you.”

Yang Lun was struck speechless.

Deng Ying continued regardless of the silence, “Yang Zixi, if this is a woman’s game, could you still be implementing new policies in Hangzhou?”

The two men stood in the snow-covered courtyard, their breath turning to white vapor.

Yang Lun brushed the frost from his clothes and snorted, “Deng Fuling, your temper is unusually bold today.”

Deng Ying stepped back and bowed, “Please forgive me, my lord.”

Yang Lun looked down at Deng Ying, “Save those words for a few days later. The people sent by the Ministry of Revenue to audit the school lands in Hangzhou have returned. At most by the new year, the Cabinet’s impeachment against you will be submitted. I have no position to delay further for you. Take care of yourself.”

“Will you join the Cabinet in signing that memorial?”

“I won’t sign!”

His voice suddenly rose: “When you’re convicted, I’ll personally inventory your household, let people see how laughable the penniless Eastern Depot Superintendent is.”

Deng Ying gave a short laugh, stepping closer to Yang Lun, “Zixi, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”

“You just can’t bear to hear me talk about Yang Wan.”

He lowered his head after speaking, unable to help laughing.

“Our family gathering for a meal, and she had to bring you back, making it seem like a bride’s visit home…”

He wanted to slap himself for saying the words “bride’s visit.”

Deng Ying looked at Yang Lun’s embarrassed expression and smiled, looking down, “It’s been three years since I last ate at your home.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Lun turned and walked toward the threshold, calling to the servants as he went: “Bring wine!”