“Yes, Your Highness.”
Yi Lang looked up at him, suddenly raising his voice, “Why were you walking together with my aunt?”
Yang Wan started, and Yang Lun also seemed taken aback.
“I forbid you to walk together with my aunt!”
“Your Highness, I…”
Yang Wan had just begun to speak when Yang Lun pulled her back. She wanted to break free but saw Deng Ying shaking his head at her.
He said nothing else, lifting his robe to kneel again, calmly requesting punishment: “This servant acknowledges his error.”
Yi Lang looked down at him: “You are the descendant of a criminal, a man who survived execution, only reaching your current position through my father’s heavenly grace. Yet instead of showing gratitude, you repeatedly damage my aunt’s reputation in the inner court – truly hateful!”
Yang Wan’s hand was held tightly by Yang Lun, but she felt no pain.
But at this moment, she also understood that she absolutely could not speak up.
This was the so-called “family empire.”
Deng Ying had told Yang Wan that before her, he was a sinner.
In a way, his thinking was the same as Yi Lang’s.
When Yi Lang regarded Yang Wan as his family member, Deng Ying’s existence became an insult to Yang Wan.
He wanted to protect Yang Wan, so he wouldn’t rebuke her for impropriety, ultimately forcing all the guilt onto Deng Ying.
Yang Wan could defend Deng Ying’s dignity before Zhang Luo, but she couldn’t say a single word for him before a child of a few years.
She felt somewhat at a loss.
This truly wasn’t the era she acknowledged. Everyone knew how to stand firm in their position, recognize their identity, and live contentedly, except Yang Wan, who didn’t know what her position was.
Having heard Yi Lang’s words, Deng Ying placed both hands on the ground, lowering his body, “Yes… I await Your Highness’s punishment.”
Yi Lang raised his head: “I won’t punish you today, out of consideration for Her Majesty the Empress’s recent fasting and accumulation of merit. But if you dare to damage my aunt’s reputation again in the future, I will have you dismembered.”
Hearing these words, Yang Wan’s mind exploded with a thunderous sound, her body lurching forward, nearly losing balance.
The words from this child’s mouth echoed Deng Ying’s oath and foretold his fate. For the first time in this past year, Yang Wan trembled at her existence in this era.
“Wan’er.”
Seeing her face turn pale, Yang Lun quickly supported her.
Yi Lang turned back at the sound, “Aunt, what’s wrong?”
Yang Wan slowly crouched down, reaching out to Yi Lang, who hesitated for a moment before obediently walking to her side and leaning into her embrace.
“Aunt, I don’t blame you.”
Yang Wan held this warm body, “This servant knows.”
“Then why are you sad?”
Yang Wan buried her head under Yi Lang’s chin, slowly exhaling, speaking softly to Yi Lang: “Aunt begs you, don’t treat him like this.”
Yi Lang also lowered his head, his mouth unconsciously tightening, “Aunt shouldn’t be like this.”
“I know…”
Yang Wan squeezed Yi Lang’s clenched little hand, “I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
Yi Lang glanced back at Deng Ying, “You may rise first.”
Then he released Yang Wan’s grip on his hand and instead took her hand himself, “Aunt, don’t be sad anymore. I’ll take you and Master Yang back to find Mother Imperial Consort for some delicious food.”