“Yes, though there are some from military households too.”
“Oh…”
Yang Wan didn’t ask further, but the chill down her back hadn’t subsided at all.
Fortunately, the soup in the pot was now boiling, and Song Yunqing, to ease the awkwardness, called Yang Wan to blanch the lamb.
When the lamb went into the pot, the previously clear broth developed a layer of white blood foam, and Yang Wan couldn’t bring herself to do it. Compared to dropping the chopsticks earlier, she felt this bloody and rank scene was even more ominous.
Deng Ying noticed her unease and put down his chopsticks, turning to ask her:
“What’s wrong?”
Yang Wan looked at the boiling broth but didn’t know how to tell Deng Ying.
She recalled the “Crane Residence Case” from the spring-summer transition, that tragedy where three hundred people were killed over one palace servant, and remembered her advisor’s speculation about Lady Ning.
The Crane Residence Case had no specific date recorded, most documents only gave the vague timing of “spring-summer transition.”
Yang Wan had initially agreed with the mainstream view, which was the record in the “History of Ming” stating that a palace maid, unable to bear the hardship and punishment, had resorted to desperate measures.
This explanation, simply put, was that an “ignorant girl” took revenge on society – however you heard it, it didn’t sound credible.
But several cases in Ming History were full of magical realism, so this “ignorant” girl didn’t seem so bizarre in comparison.
However, for some reason, although these things hadn’t formed a complete speculative loop at this time, ever since hearing that Zheng Yuejia was responsible for selecting wet nurses for the Second Prince, Yang Wan had a premonition that Zheng Yuejia seemed to be the cause of the Crane Residence Case, or if not entirely the cause, at least one link in the chain.
“Deng Ying, is there any way to get Secretary Zheng to resign from this duty?”
Deng Ying shook his head, “This is a duty assigned by the Empress, it can’t be resigned without cause.”
“Oh…”
This “oh” almost carried a sigh.
Song Yunqing said puzzledly: “This is a good duty. Being a prince’s wet nurse brings glory to the local area, no local government office wants to fall behind, they all compete to give silver to the Ceremonial Office gentlemen. Although… Secretary Zheng doesn’t seem like that kind of person, it’s still prestigious. Why are you asking him to resign?”
Li Yu suddenly said: “She thinks something bad will happen, right?”
Yang Wan was startled, but Li Yu didn’t know what kind of statement he had made, continuing to fish out lamb from the boiling water, “Didn’t she just drop her chopsticks?”
Yang Wan’s eyes were misty from the pot’s steam. Seeing her rub her eyes, Deng Ying stood up, “I’ll sit on your side.”
Yang Wan shook her head, pulling his sleeve to sit down, and let out a deep breath.
“Ah, I said I was hosting, but I’ve made it so none of you can eat properly.”
Chen Hua said: “How could that be? We haven’t stopped eating. Actually, Yunqing is sometimes like this too, when she encounters things, she tends to overthink. But I think it’s quite good, it shows real attention to detail, preparing for rain before it falls. Li Yu and I don’t have such minds.”
After hearing Chen Hua speak, Deng Ying lowered his head and said to Yang Wan: “I’ll speak to Secretary Zheng tomorrow, ask him to be careful.”
Yang Wan nodded, raised her hand to pat her neck twice, puffed out her cheeks to exhale, and couldn’t help looking up to say again: “Or maybe, you should still get him to resign.”
Li Yu challenged her: “You too – they already said it was assigned by the Empress, if you make him resign, that’s defying the Empress’s decree. Being dragged out and beaten to death wouldn’t be too much. Secretary Zheng is like a bodhisattva, why are you giving him trouble…”
Song Yunqing knocked away the meat Li Yu had picked up, saying sternly: “Stop eating, get out.”
Chen Hua hurriedly said: “Never mind, never mind, everyone means well. Come, come, there’s still a piece of meat here. I see Chief Deng and the Registry Chief haven’t eaten yet, I’ll put it in.”
Yang Wan pinched Deng Ying’s sleeve and lowered her head, pressed her lips together, and said: “I’m sorry, I don’t know how such confused words came out of my mouth.”
Deng Ying looked down at Yang Wan’s hand.
She had always liked to pinch his sleeve. This kind of contact arose from feeling and stopped at propriety, giving Deng Ying sufficient respect beneath his official robes, but seemed insufficient to let him fully bear her anxiety and fear.
Thinking this, Deng Ying slowly lowered his arm to make it more comfortable for her to hold.