The Eastern Depot was located north of the Mixed Hall Court, and like the Directorate of Ceremonial, it was just another office within the inner court.
In Deng Ying’s first year leading the Eastern Depot, they only had the power to monitor and arrest, but not to detain or interrogate suspects. Yang Wan was being held in an empty duty room on the west side of the inner Eastern Depot. When the guards brought her in, she was already running a high fever, and the wounds on her body hadn’t stopped bleeding after the bumpy journey. However, there wasn’t even a clean blanket in the duty room at this time. Song Yunqing could only help Yang Wan lean temporarily against the couch before walking out to tell the guards, “I’ll go back to the Fifth Division to get her clean clothes and bring a blanket.”
Qin Wende said, “The Chengrong Palace just sent someone to ask, and they’ve already gone back to get her clothes.”
Song Yunqing nodded, “That’s good…”
Qin Wende glanced inside, “Although this is our Eastern Depot’s jurisdiction, she is still a prisoner after all. You shouldn’t stay too long, to avoid giving our Superintendent, or yourself, anything to be criticized about.”
“I understand.”
Song Yunqing looked up, “Let me help her change her clothes. No one else here can do this.”
Just then, the eunuch from Chengrong Palace arrived with clothes and bedding, anxiously telling Song Yunqing, “The Consort and young prince cannot come here. When they heard about the torture, they became extremely worried. This servant must personally ask the Chief Officer, how badly is Record Keeper Yang injured?”
Song Yunqing took the clothes, her nose stinging with emotion, but having served in the palace for many years, she knew not to add fuel to the fire. Holding back tears, she replied, “You can tell the Consort that although the injuries are not light, fortunately, they’re all surface wounds. In this moderate weather, they should heal quickly. Please ask the Consort to take care of herself and not worry too much.”
The eunuch sighed in relief, nodding, “With your words, this servant can go back with an answer.”
Song Yunqing waved for him to go, turned away to wipe her tears, then pushed open the door.
All of Yang Wan’s injuries were on her waist, abdomen, and legs. When Song Yunqing helped her change clothes, she could barely bear to look at the wounds.
“Just wear the undergarments tonight, you can’t handle anything more.”
Yang Wan struggled with her last bit of strength to cooperate with Song Yunqing’s movements. “It looks… scary, doesn’t it?”
Song Yunqing nodded with a soft “mm,” and then said, “I can’t stay overnight. After helping you change, I have to leave. It’s late now, and there can’t be any more disturbances at the gate, so we can’t call for the imperial physician. I’ll help apply some of the medicine Consort Ning provided, but tomorrow you’ll have to manage on your own. Yang Wan, remember, no matter what, don’t let any eunuchs touch your body. People like us – they’re not worthy. Do you understand?”
When Yang Wan heard Song Yunqing’s words, she suddenly remembered Li Yu once saying that although Song Yunqing had been paired with Chen Hua for many years, she never allowed Chen Hua to enter her quarters. This showed how lowly these people in the Ming palace were – even if they gained the affection of palace maids, they could never earn their true respect.
“Yunqing…”
“Hmm?”
Yang Wan didn’t want to answer Song Yunqing directly, so she changed the subject.
“Could you take a message to Consort Ning for me?”
Song Yunqing pressed down the bedding at the edge of the bed, bending to help tie the side sash of her undergarments. “Tell me.”
“Tell the Consort, please don’t… plead on my behalf. It’s best if she doesn’t inquire about me at all.”
“I’ll tell her.”
As Song Yunqing spoke, she moved Yang Wan’s legs onto the couch and pulled the blanket over her body. “I’m leaving now. Take care of yourself.”
“Alright…”
The duty room door opened and closed, leaving only silence inside, save for the occasional “pop” from the lamp Song Yunqing had lit before leaving, which hadn’t yet burned steadily. Deng Ying stood outside the duty room, watching the warm glow on the window screen without saying a word. As two shifts of guards changed at the door, Deng Ying stepped aside. The long-standing made his leg injury ache, causing him to stumble slightly. Qin Wende tried to help him, but saw him wave his hand, “It’s fine, continue your shift change.”
Qin Wende said, “Superintendent, since you’re here, why not go in to see her?”
Deng Ying didn’t answer.
He had been standing there for almost half an hour, but he dared not go in.
He feared she would be exposed while tending to her wounds, feeling humiliated and unsettled. He feared that no matter how much he lowered himself, he couldn’t lift her dignity. Although he had suffered all those punishments himself, the final castration punishment had erased all previous pain. He could no longer speak final words like Zhou Congshan who said before death, “May my flesh and blood fall to earth to pave a good path for those who follow, and may my bones become trees to shelter future generations.”
After that one cut, he no longer had the right to be an “ancestor” to future generations.
He could only accept his fate, put down the pen that wrote articles, close the mouth that shouted for the world, don palace robes, call himself a servant, and live on in silence.
He had become like this, but Yang Wan was different.
She was perhaps the only person in this world who pitied Deng Ying.
For Deng Ying, if she had even a single crack, he would have to shatter completely to continue staying by her side.
“Superintendent.”
Seeing no response, Qin Wende called out again tentatively, “It is indeed late today. Why don’t you return first and question her tomorrow?”
“Alright…”
Just as he lowered his head to reply, he suddenly heard the person inside call his name.
“Deng Ying.”
The voice was very weak, but he heard it.
“Deng Ying.”
She didn’t say anything else, just called out again, though her voice trembled at the end, even triggering several coughs.
“Here.”
It came out almost instantly.
She seemed to sigh, or perhaps let out a breath of relief.
“Whether you see me or not, please don’t foolishly blame yourself… I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt much, I just don’t have much strength, otherwise, I’d help you open the door…”
After saying this, she coughed several more times intermittently.
“Deng Ying, could you ask them to bring me some water?”
“Bring me a pot of water.”