The board house door was opened, and snow light rushed in. Deng Ying had to raise his hand to shield his eyes. A figure timely blocked the doorway, standing backlit, face unclear.
“No need to push him, let him walk on his own.”
The person’s voice wasn’t loud, but the Golden Guard and Bright Armor soldiers outside all followed his words, stepping back.
The person walked into the room, light suddenly retreating from his form. Deng Ying saw his face, supported himself on his knees to stand, raised his hand, and bowed to him.
“Lord Zhang.”
Zhang Luo walked to his front, reached to unfasten the sword at his waist, placed it on the table, and returned a cupped-hand salute. Then he straightened to tie his sword back on, his voice characteristically cold: “Walk.”
Deng Ying obediently walked out of the boarding house. The rising sun was in sight, and Zhang Luo ordered him to stand and wait a moment.
Soon, the door of the boarding house to the side opened, and the Imperial Household Department group was also brought out.
They had all been tortured, some couldn’t walk at all and were dragged by the Imperial Guard’s strongmen, stumbling toward the Golden Water Bridge. He Yixian, old and weak, was almost dragged the whole way, his shackles scraping across the snow, making sharp sounds.
Though Deng Ying also wore prison clothes, his garments were intact, neat, and clean.
Zhang Luo and his men walked three feet away, accommodating his pace, neither shouting nor hurrying.
Deng Ying didn’t look at He Yixian. He raised his head against the dazzling sunlight, looking up at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The stone dragon heads under the white jade railings had been wiped very clean, thousands of dragons raising their heads, looking back at their imprisoned builder.
A slight smile couldn’t help appearing on Deng Ying’s face.
At the lowest point of his life, no one had humiliated him. Whether Qi Huaiyang or Zhang Luo, these men who administered Ming’s criminal law all protected his dignity within their power.
The winter cold was boundlessly quiet, yet countless tiny blessings came to him from all directions.
His teacher’s reluctance to part, his close friend’s affection, and his opponent’s respect, all made him genuinely happy.
And of course, there was his Yang Wan…
She wore plain mourning clothes, standing at the bottom of the platform, secretly loosening her hands clasped at her belly, waving gently at him. Only when he came close did she properly compose herself again, smiling as she looked him up and down.
“Did you eat all the apples and tangerines?”
“I did.”
“Deng Ying.”
Zhang Luo’s voice interrupted Deng Ying’s words.
Deng Ying lowered his head and fell silent.
Zhang Luo turned and stepped closer to Yang Wan, saying formally: “No speaking with prisoners outside the hall.”
“Yes. Then may I say a few words to Lord Zhang?”
Zhang Luo froze for a moment, his voice notably dropping three degrees: “Speak.”
Yang Wan stepped back and made a formal feminine bow to Zhang Luo.
“What are you doing?”
Yang Wan straightened up: “Thanking my lord for letting him walk this path on his own.”
Zhang Luo gripped his sword hilt, turning his head to avoid Yang Wan’s gaze: “The Ming Code has a provision for ‘showing mercy to prisoners.’ He shows no sign of resistance, so there’s no need for restraints.”
“Mm.”
Yang Wan nodded: “Yang Wan has learned.”
Zhang Luo said no more, turning to leave.
But then he heard Yang Wan call: “Lord Zhang, do you prefer tangerines or apples?”
Zhang Luo was stunned, turning back: “What are you asking me?”
“I want to give you a gift.”
She spoke frankly: “But I guess if I gave Lord Zhang anything else, you would charge me with ‘bribery,’ so I’ll just buy you fruit to eat.”
Then she repeated: “Do you prefer tangerines or apples?”
Zhang Luo instinctively wanted to refuse her, but though he opened his mouth, the words he meant to say wouldn’t come out for a long time.
“Deng Ying.”
He turned around. Deng Ying was somewhat startled but still responded:
“Here.”
“Do you eat tangerines or apples?”
He inexplicably asked Deng Ying instead.
“Apples.”
“Oh.”
Zhang Luo paused, then said to Yang Wan: “Tangerines.”
Yang Wan nodded: “Alright, I’ll have my brother deliver them to Lord Zhang’s residence tomorrow.”
Just as she finished speaking, the sound of whips came from beneath Golden Water Bridge. Yi Lang’s procession approached, and the Gate of Ultimate Achievement to the west also opened. The ministers of the Grand Secretariat, along with the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicature and Revision, the Censors of the Left and Right, and others straightened their clothes at the gate before crossing and heading toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Yang Wan turned to walk toward Yi Lang’s procession, while Zhang Luo and the others knelt in greeting.
Yi Lang ascended the hall and took his seat, sending for the Two Palaces to enter.
Zhang Luo stood up, leaving only Deng Ying and the Imperial Household Department eunuchs kneeling.
Soon after, the Two Palaces also ascended the hall. Qing Meng ran down from the vermillion steps, conveying: “Summon the ministers and the Imperial Household Department to enter the hall.”