After Bai Yuyang finished speaking, his blood rushed to his head, veins bulging, and he could barely stand steady.

Yang Lun looked up at him, and after a moment of confrontation, suddenly slammed the table and stood up. He was naturally broad-shouldered and long-armed, with an upright bearing, standing half a head taller than Bai Yuyang. Qi Huaiyang thought the two would come to blows and stood up with Yang Lun, but Yang Lun said nothing, just shot Bai Yuyang a fierce glare before storming out of the Revenue Ministry’s main hall.

Bai Yuyang said hatefully, “If it weren’t for Father’s regard for him, just these few words today, along with his obstruction of the school land investigation last autumn, his name should have a place on the impeachment memorial!”

Qi Huaiyang advised, “Let it be. Elder Bai repeatedly instructed us while ill to keep our tempers in check and discuss things properly. This impeachment memorial must be written, but we must be precise with the wording.”

“Hmph.”

Bai Yuyang sat back in his chair, pointing at the front door and speaking with murderous intent, “How can we discuss? The man’s gone!”

The Minister of Revenue pressed his brow and gestured to calm Bai Yuyang, “He hasn’t left. The officials outside are causing trouble over empty salaries, he can still barely keep them in check. Let him go. We can speak more calmly without him here.”

Bai Yuyang took a sip of cold tea, barely suppressing his temper.

Qi Huaiyang said, “Now that Yang Lun refuses to take the lead, who will write this memorial?”

Bai Yuyang glanced at the Minister of Revenue, who lowered his head to drink tea, saying nothing.

Seeing them both silent, Qi Huaiyang also sat down without speaking.

After a long while, Bai Yuyang finally spoke, “I’ll ask Elder Bai’s opinion again.”

Qi Huaiyang asked, “Has the Cabinet Elder’s illness shown improvement?”

Bai Yuyang shook his head, “No improvement yet this spring. We’ll have to wait until the weather warms further.”

Qi Huaiyang sighed, “When people age, they truly can’t withstand persecution. I heard Vice Minister Zhang isn’t doing well in prison either. By year’s end, he seemed quite infirm.”

Bai Yuyang said, “Indeed. That son of his… ruthless.”

At this point, all three men felt uneasy. After the chen hour, with matters requiring attention in various ministries, they dispersed.

That day, when the Imperial Dispensary brought Yi Lang his tonic soup, Yang Wan went along with Imperial Physician Peng to get medicine for Deng Ying.

Imperial Physician Peng asked, “Is the Superintendent’s wound mostly healed?”

“Yes, your medicine has always been good. Just recently I’ve noticed he seems uncomfortable walking, I fear his leg injury is troubling him again.”

Imperial Physician Peng said, “That’s always been difficult to treat. If he neglects the internal and external medicines for any length of time, previous progress is wasted.”

Yang Wan lowered her head, “Yes, I must trouble you to take extra care. I’ll watch him closely in the future, ensure he follows your treatment properly.”

Imperial Physician Peng laughed, “Young lady, you worry so much about others, you must take care of yourself too. The transition between winter and spring often brings back old injuries. If Young Lady Yang has any discomfort, you can consult with the female physicians about ways to maintain your health.”

Yang Wan nodded, “Yes.”

While waiting for Deng Ying’s medicine to be prepared, they spoke further about dietary methods for treating children’s lung heat during the winter-spring transition.

By the time she left with the medicine, the sun was setting in the western mountains.

Yang Wan carried the medicine toward the Inner Eastern Depot, when suddenly she saw someone in a dark robe walking toward her.

Yang Wan recognized him at once as Zhang Luo.

She did not attempt to avoid him, silently stopping to wait for him to approach.

“Thank you for not torturing my brother.”

She spoke and curtsied.

Standing straight to meet Zhang Luo’s gaze, “In the Qingbo House case, my lord did not take revenge on anyone. I’m grateful. I’m here now, whatever you wish to do to me, I won’t say anything.”

Zhang Luo’s face was pale, his jaw stubble showing a faint blue, standing ramrod straight, his face as if bound by a mask, very rigid. He had just left the prison. Before leaving the torture chamber, his father had knelt before the torture rack begging him for mercy. He had said nothing, only ordered someone to change his father’s tattered prison garment.

The Qingbo House case was nearly concluded, and he finally recalled what Yang Wan had said to him in front of Wenhua Hall: “I only hope that when my lord encounters the truth, he can still treat the guilty as he once treated me.”

“That man is my father. You used me against him. Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”

Yang Wan shook her head, “It was just a gamble, betting on the Great Ming Code in your heart.”

For a woman to calculate human nature isn’t rare; what’s difficult is calculating both system and human nature together.

Zhang Luo stared at Yang Wan like a hawk eyeing its prey, “When did the Great Ming Code ever allow servants to meddle in politics? Yang Wan, you’re seeking your death.”

Yang Wan raised her head, “I understand, but I have no other path. I harm no innocent person, I only seek justice for the wronged. The Great Ming Code indeed doesn’t allow women to do this, but I want to ask, if I don’t do it, who will?”

She stepped closer to Zhang Luo, “Over eighty people at Tongjia Academy were brutally killed by you, Zhang Zhanchun died tragically, Zheng Bingbi was beaten to death, my sister was imprisoned, my brother nearly died in the cold river, the Crown Prince lives in daily fear in Chengqian Palace, having to both respect his imperial father and understand state affairs. I won’t speak of what I should do as a woman, but as a person who hasn’t lost their mind – I couldn’t save them, but I can’t do nothing, can I?”

Zhang Luo grabbed Yang Wan’s wrist, causing the medicine she held to scatter on the ground. “You such arrogance, where does it leave our Great Ming’s governance!”

“Then you do it.”

Yang Wan’s gaze softened, “Deputy Commander Zhang, save those who have been wronged… If you can save them, I’m willing to accept punishment. If you can’t save them, then please let me be.”

After speaking, she slowly pulled her wrist from Zhang Luo’s hand. She took a deep breath, rolled up her sleeves, and went to gather the scattered herbs. The herbs were too crushed, and Zhang Luo had stepped on them; she couldn’t gather them all. She simply knelt, letting down her sleeves to sweep them together.

Zhang Luo looked down at Yang Wan’s hands.

To Zhang Luo, Yang Wan had always been contradictory.

Like all prison inmates, once in prison garments, Yang Wan was just a trembling female prisoner without the strength to bind a chicken. Now kneeling to gather medicine, she appeared as helpless and humble as any other palace servant. But no matter how afraid she was, she could still constrain him with her words. Zhang Luo even felt it wasn’t just verbal constraint, but one kind of integrity crushing another kind of integrity.

As for why he would apply the word “integrity” to a woman, he couldn’t understand it himself.

“Someone come help her gather these.”

Yang Wan looked up from her kneeling position, “I don’t need men’s pity.”

“Without men’s pity, what do you rely on to live?”

Yang Wan pressed her lips together, “On my pity for you all.”

Zhang Luo ordered the guard, “Pull her up.”

Yang Wan was lifted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, before the strong men she was like a delicate vine flower, hanging there frailly. Zhang Luo raised his hand, but before his fingers could touch her chin, she said, “I don’t like being touched like this.”

Zhang Luo fell silent for a moment, slowly lowering his hand.

The guard presented the gathered herbs to Zhang Luo, who took them and held them out before Yang Wan’s eyes. Yang Wan looked at him warily but didn’t take them.

Zhang Luo tilted his chin up, looking down at her, “Yang Wan, I’m not as shameless as you think. My father betrayed imperial grace, he deserves punishment. I won’t take revenge for the Qingbo House case. Your crime of defying propriety and interfering in state affairs, I’ll note for now.”

He raised his arm, “Take your medicine back, and take care of yourself.”

The golden sun was setting in the west, casting long shadows everywhere.

Yang Wan held the medicine to her chest, and after a long while, finally managed to release the breath she’d been holding.

She pulled her clothes tight and hurried to the Inner Eastern Depot, but Deng Ying wasn’t in the office. Qin Wende told Yang Wan that tomorrow was the regular court, His Majesty would attend at Fengtian Gate, and the Directorate of Ceremonial was holding its customary grand deliberation today, which all supervisors had to attend.

Since the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, daily court sessions usually continued without interruption, rarely being canceled even in bad weather. Only when imperial consorts or princely relatives passed away would a court be suspended for one to three days as per “mourning ritual.” But by Emperor Zhenning’s reign, this had gradually become lax. From the fourth year of Zhenning, regular court sessions had been abolished, and daily administration completely handed over to the cooperation between the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Cabinet. Only for major state affairs would Emperor Zhenning attend court at Fengtian Gate.

Yang Wan calculated the time in the fourteenth year of Zhenning; the most recent imperial attendance at regular court was the twenty-third day of the first month – tomorrow.

Emperor Zhenning was obsessed with controlling state finances, typically holding grand deliberations on finance at the start of the year. This was vital to state survival – if not discussed well, it would be disastrous for the Ministry of Revenue, local taxation, and even border defense. Moreover, this year was the first year of implementing the “new field tax” in Hangzhou. Before the new year, the Cabinet had already presented the situation at Yangxin Hall, begging Emperor Zhenning to preside over the discussion.

When the emperor was to attend morning court, almost no one in the Directorate of Ceremonial could sleep the night before.

Deng Ying, having difficulty sitting for long, simply stood at his desk, bending to review the Ministry of Revenue’s memorials.

Under the eaves, melting snow fell in rhythmic drops outside the window. The charcoal fire in the main hall burned lower and lower. Two young eunuchs, seeing Deng Ying suffering from the cold, secretly moved the charcoal brazier closer to his feet.

“Is your leg troubling you again?”

He Yixian entered from outside, with Hu Xiang hurrying to help him remove his cape.

Deng Ying put down his brush, “Thank you for your concern, Elder Ancestor. At the change of seasons, it always aches for a few days.”

He Yixian walked up to him, “Can you still endure?”

“This servant can.”

“I think you need some rest.”

Deng Ying lowered his head without speaking. He Yixian said, “The Cabinet has already written the memorial impeaching you. Tomorrow at court, someone will read it aloud.”

Deng Ying’s hand holding the brush paused.

He Yixian continued, “Do you know who initiated it?”

“I don’t.”

“It was your teacher.”

Deng Ying slowly tightened his grip on the brush.

He Yixian watched his fingers, speaking evenly, “What good does it do to be kind to these people? Collecting rent from thousands of mu of school lands, yet this year you couldn’t even buy a two-courtyard residence. One might think the master treats you too harshly. Today I mentioned your illness and situation to the master. The master has a reward, telling you to receive it tomorrow.”

Deng Ying looked up, “What does Elder Ancestor mean?”

He Yixian clicked his tongue, “Both the master and I still care for you as a person.”