He truly listened to Yang Wan’s words.
Initially, it was a guilty person’s shame toward their victim, seeking Yang Wan’s guidance to dissolve his feelings of guilt.
But Yang Wan had never disciplined Deng Ying. She never rejected the ‘shame’ he handed over to her, and instead gently ‘bound’ the hand he extended himself, allowing him to sit calmly and talk with her.
She understood Deng Ying well enough to never pierce through his old-fashioned refinement with the radiance of humanism. By Yang Wan’s side, Deng Ying still possessed a soul as smooth as fine jade, flawless as his era – identical to what Yang Wan would find six hundred years later when brushing away the dust of time.
“Words once spoken cannot be broken.”
“Yes.”
Yang Wan lowered her head to look at Deng Ying’s hands resting on his knees.
“Give me your hand.”
“Hmm?”
“Give me your hand, let’s make a pinky promise.”
Deng Ying rose and lifted his hand toward Yang Wan. His sleeve fell back, revealing wrists bound by shackles. Yang Wan used one hand to support his hand from below, while her other hand gently hooked his finger.
“Do you remember what I said to you at Nanhaizi?”
Deng Ying nodded, “I remember. You said you would come find me, and when we next met, I should speak properly with you.”
Yang Wan smiled and tugged gently at Deng Ying’s finger. “Deng Ying, this time, I will still come find you. Only next time when I see you, it will be my turn to speak properly with you.”
After she finished speaking, she took Deng Ying’s hand. “Come, let me take you over.”
Qi Huaiyang gestured for the guards to come forward and take Deng Ying away. Yang Wan compliantly released his hand.
Yang Lun glanced at Deng Ying, then turned to Yang Wan and said, “Do you have anything else to say? There’s still some time.”
Yang Wan shook her head, “No more. You can take him away now. I’ll follow behind and see you out through Donghua Gate.”
Hearing her words, Qi Huaiyang didn’t delay further and gave the order to proceed.
Yang Wan walked alongside Yang Lun behind Deng Ying. The hard snow powder on the ground was gradually packed down by those walking ahead, making a gritty sound when stepped on. Deng Ying didn’t turn back to look at Yang Wan again. The wind picked up snow powder at the city gate, swept past his body, and struck Yang Wan’s face. Yang Wan turned aside, suppressing the urge to cough in her throat.
Yang Lun turned to look at her and said softly, “Have you been ill recently?”
Yang Wan nodded, “A little.”
Yang Lun turned back and raised his voice slightly, “Don’t worry about him anymore. Take care of yourself and His Highness.”
“I know.”
By then, they had reached Donghua Gate. Deng Ying was led into the prisoner cart. Yang Lun gestured for Yang Wan to wait behind the gate while he went forward to speak briefly with Qi Huaiyang. As the Ministry of Justice group departed, Yang Lun returned to Yang Wan and said, “From today until the Three Departments’ joint trial ends, you cannot see him again.”
Yang Wan nodded.
“However,” Yang Lun paused and continued, “The Ministry of Justice is different from the Imperial Prison. They allow family members from outside to send some clothes and food. He might not accept what I sent him. But he wouldn’t dare refuse what you send. If you have anything you want to give him, just tell someone to come to the Cabinet duty room and tell me. I’ll buy it outside and give it to him.”
Yang Wan smiled, “Brother.”
“What?”
Yang Wan looked up, “You don’t seem to blame me anymore.”
Yang Lun started, unconsciously swallowing before scolding lightly, “Can I control you?”
He turned his back after speaking, and after a long while said, “Live however you want. If Deng Ying can get out this time, I’ll give you money to buy a house outside. Live far away from me. Don’t let your sisters-in-law get upset seeing you.”
“We have a house.”
“A house?”
Yang Lun turned around, “You call that a house? Haven’t you seen how it was wrecked by the students from Chu Mountain and Lake Peaceful academies?”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s wrecked. Deng Ying is a builder after all.”
“What builder?”
Yang Lun’s voice shot up, “What do you know? He built the Imperial City! In our great Ming’s hundred years, there were only two people like him and Zhang Zhanchun. You want him to fix roofs with you?”
Seeing Yang Lun’s reddened neck, Yang Wan couldn’t help but laugh. She lowered her eyes and said, “I’m sorry, brother. It’s my fault. I won’t let him fix it. I’ll do it myself.”
Hearing her apology, Yang Lun felt somewhat awkward. He patted the back of his head, and walked a few steps forward with his hands behind his back, saying as he walked, “I still don’t understand what would be best for you two.”
Yang Wan walked closer to Yang Lun and called out, “Brother.”
Yang Lun pinched his fingers, neither responding nor turning around.
Yang Wan changed the subject, “When will the Cabinet draft the new edict?”
Yang Lun coughed once, “Minister Bai and I have already drafted it. It will be issued after the Cabinet’s deliberation.”
He turned around after speaking and looked down at Yang Wan, agreeing, “There’s one thing you can prepare for.”
Yang Wan nodded, responding directly without waiting for Yang Lun’s explanation, “I’m already preparing.”
At this point, both fell silent.
The cold wind gusted in through the city gate, making the shadows of withered trees dance wildly under the sun. Yang Wan pulled her clothes tighter, “Brother, I’m a bit worried.”
Yang Lun asked, “What are you worried about?”
“Worried that Her Majesty won’t want to return to Chengqian Palace.”