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: