He Yu helped Yang Wan move the lamp, then turned to see Song Yunqing still shaking all over, her lips turning dark. She worriedly asked, “Why won’t she warm up?”
Yang Wan turned to look at Song Yunqing and sighed, “It’s not from cold.”
“If not cold, then what? She’s shaking so badly.”
Yang Wan shook her head, “Go brew some hot soup and bring it here.”
“Alright…”
As He Yu adjusted the bedding around Song Yunqing and rose to leave, Deng Ying pushed open the door and entered.
Yang Wan turned around, “How is it?”
Deng Ying looked at Song Yunqing sitting on Yang Wan’s bed and said softly, “I arrived too late, Li Yu’s head…”
“Ah…”
Song Yunqing suddenly cried out in pain from the bed, throwing her head back with her mouth open, saliva forming sticky threads between her upper and lower teeth, yet no sound of crying could escape her throat.
“I’m sorry.”
Deng Ying turned away, unable to bear watching.
“I’ve had the Eastern Depot collect Li Yu’s remains. I will personally arrange his burial. Please rest assured, Official Song, I won’t treat him with disrespect.”
“Why… why did he have to die…”
Song Yunqing clutched the bedding tightly, “Why couldn’t he live even after taking a godfather… We, siblings, have lived so cautiously in the palace for so long, never speaking our minds freely, never doing anything boldly, why did we still end up as ghosts, become ghosts… A’Yu, your sister watched you die but couldn’t save you, your sister… should die too.”
“Official Song…”
“Deng Ying.”
Yang Wan gestured for Deng Ying to stay quiet, then knelt beside the bed herself and embraced Song Yunqing’s shoulders, “Song Yunqing, I risked my life to bring you back to Chengqian Palace. If you implicate His Highness, you’ll make me a sinner too. I know you’re devastated by Li Yu’s death, but what use would it be even if you died with him? Do you know why he died? Do you know who killed him? Do you know who to hate? Huh?”
Song Yunqing froze in Yang Wan’s embrace, suddenly coughing several times, “Right… he said, the edict… the edict is fake!”
“How would Li Yu know the edict was fake?”
Song Yunqing said, “On the fifth of every month, he would bring preserved meat to Scribe Li…”
Yang Wan looked up at Deng Ying: “Scribe Li?”
Deng Ying lowered his eyes, remained silent for a moment, then said: “It’s too late.”
He walked to the bed, lifted his robes, and crouched down, looking up at Song Yunqing, “Official Song, before Li Yu’s incident, he was going to the Ceremonial Bureau to find you, correct?”
Song Yunqing nodded through her sobs.
Deng Ying lowered his head, “If Li Yu’s words are true, the Office of Ceremonies will search for you tonight. I cannot let Yang Wan keep you in Chengqian Palace. You must leave the palace with me immediately.”
Song Yunqing trembled and shook her head, “Where… where can I go now if I leave the palace, how can I possibly survive…”
Yang Wan gripped her hand and said, “Go to Qingbo House.”
“That’s…”
“My place.”
Yang Wan tucked back some loose hair that had become damp from the charcoal smoke, “You remember, right? You even helped calculate the money for buying Qingbo House before. It’s not very big, but both the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard have frequented it, so no one dares to investigate anymore. The bookshop business is doing quite well now. Go there to rest for a while first, and for food, clothing, and other necessities, just ask the shopkeeper. If you feel better later, help me manage it. You and I were both scribes at the Ceremonial Bureau before – you’ll understand the book-related matters as soon as you start.”
As she spoke, she untied her ivory tablet from her waist and handed it to Song Yunqing.
“Take my tablet and go with Superintendent Deng. Don’t be afraid.”
“I…”
“Song Yunqing.”
Yang Wan interrupted her, pressed her lips together, and lowered her head while holding her hand, “I’ve never truly acknowledged you and Lady Jiang. For me, although preserving oneself is important, when the nest falls, how can the eggs remain unbroken? Do you think this era has nothing to do with us? As long as we’re alive, no one can escape it. You and I are educated women, we must have more heart than other women. Besides protecting our own lives, we can surely do other things. Listen to me, stop crying, stay calm when leaving the palace grounds, and don’t cause trouble for Deng Ying. Don’t think about anything else after you leave. Stay alive, and one day you’ll see justice done.”