Song Yunqing put her hands on her hips, walked to the door, and snapped at him: “What do you know?”
She slammed the door shut with a “bang” and walked to Yang Wan’s side to help her fold the clothes piled on the bed, saying, “Don’t mind what I said. You know I speak directly, I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s not that Superintendent Deng isn’t a good person, I just feel it’s unfair to you.”
Yang Wan hugged the folded clothes and packed them into the wooden chest, turning back with a smile to respond, “I understand.”
Song Yunqing sat on the couch, looking at the half-empty room, “We’ve lived together for almost two years. When I first saw you come in, I envied you, thinking that as Consort Ning’s sister, you entered the palace straight into the Ladies-in-Waiting Bureau. Madam Jiang and Palace Servant Lu valued you, naturally different from me. Later, waiting for imperial grace, you could reunite with your family… You know, among palace women, only ladies-in-waiting can wait for such a day. Now, you’re going to Chengqian Palace, and you’ve lost your lady-in-waiting status. If you want to leave, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until His Majesty…”
The latter part was taboo—people of the Ladies-in-Waiting Bureau who knew etiquette would never speak of it lightly.
Song Yunqing pressed her lips together and continued helping Yang Wan fold clothes.
Yang Wan sat down beside her, “Do you still have that hand cream?”
“Still have some, do you want it?”
“Yes.”
Song Yunqing brought the cream, and Yang Wan scooped some to apply on her wrist, removing one of her jade bracelets to give to Song Yunqing.
“This is for you.”
Song Yunqing hurriedly said: “No, no, the jade from your Yang family is a rare treasure, I can’t accept it.”
Yang Wan took her hand, “Then just keep it for me. If I fall into hardship someday, this might be life-saving money.”
Song Yunqing hesitantly accepted the bracelet, “You… fall into hardship?”
Yang Wan smiled.
“Who can say for sure about these things?”
She finished speaking and adjusted the silver hairpin in Song Yunqing’s bun, speaking seriously:
“Yunqing, though being a lady-in-waiting in the palace is respectable, you and I both know how exhausting the duties are. When things get busy, I won’t be able to help you anymore, so take good care of yourself.”
Hearing this, Song Yunqing embraced Yang Wan, “You too. Since being tortured in the prison, your complexion hasn’t been as good as before. Now that Superintendent Deng has power and money, don’t neglect yourself. He now moves more freely in and out of the inner court that Chen Hua—whatever ginseng or snow frogs you want to eat, he can buy them all for you.”
From Song Yunqing’s words, Yang Wan realized she didn’t know about Deng Ying borrowing money like Chen Hua to buy a house.
“What ginseng and snow frogs? He has no money. Probably even less than me.”
Song Yunqing released Yang Wan and raised an eyebrow, “How is that possible? I heard Chen Hua say that the Eastern Depot has broken ground north of Zhengyang Gate to build the Eastern Depot prison. Just the materials—wood, bricks, and stones—cost tens of thousands of silver taels.”
What Song Yunqing said was true.
After the Hejü case, the Emperor’s attitude toward the Northern Patrol Commission underwent a subtle change.
But such changes had occurred many times, each varying in degree, and could even reverse immediately depending on the situation, so there are no specific historical records. However, historians, through analysis of vast historical materials, roughly determined several periods, including one in the autumn of the thirteenth year of Zhenning, when Emperor Zhenning issued a clear edict allowing the Eastern Depot to build its prison at Zhengyang Gate, later known as the “Depot Prison.”
The construction of this great prison gradually began to change the judicial landscape beyond the Three Judicial Offices, with the Eastern Depot’s power slowly matching that of the Northern Patrol Commission. Researchers analyze that after the Hejü case, Emperor Zhenning began doubting his safety, believing that although the Imperial Guard was subordinate to imperial power, they were still external officials who had their principles and could hardly fully understand his intentions, let alone wholeheartedly protect his life. Thus, he gradually delegated power to the Eastern Depot, tacitly allowing it to infiltrate the Imperial Guard, with the prison’s construction serving as a symbol.
Through the prison’s involvement in criminal law, Deng Ying’s life also opened a chapter of political participation.
Except for Yang Wan, most historical researchers viewed the construction of this prison negatively, with many considering it an even more deplorable place than the Eastern Depot’s detention center.
On this point, even Yang Wan couldn’t argue.
After Yi Lang and Deng Ying’s deaths, the later Eastern Depot prison, through continuous reforms and developments by various eunuchs, indeed became a verifiable hell on earth. When scholars traced this prison’s history, they naturally picked up the flesh of its builder to flog once again.
“Yang Wan, why aren’t you speaking?”
Yang Wan was still absorbed in her thoughts when Song Yunqing noticed her eyes seemed a bit red.
“What are you thinking about? You’re completely dazed.”
“Oh…”
Yang Wan pressed her brow, “Nothing, maybe I didn’t sleep well last night, I’m a bit scattered right now.”
Song Yunqing stood up and said: “Then sit and rest, I’ll help you organize the rest. We’ll have those people outside move everything at once, so they won’t need to make a second trip.”
She efficiently closed the chest latches, tied up the bundle’s opening, and opened the door to tell Qin Wende: “Alright, you can come in and move things now. Let me tell you first, Young Miss Yang’s things are all very precious. If you’re even slightly careless, your Superintendent won’t let you off.”
“We know, we know. Our Superintendent is waiting at Chengqian Palace.”