Deng Ying returned alone to his guard post by the city moat. Opening the door, he found Li Yu half-kneeling on his bed with a brush, dusting. Seeing Deng Ying return, Li Yu quickly got down and said, “You’re finally back.”
Deng Ying looked at the brush in his hand. “What are you doing here?”
“You haven’t been back for days. I saw it was dusty, so I thought I’d clean it for you,” Li Yu replied.
Deng Ying lifted his hand, “What happened to your palm?”
Li Yu’s eyes suddenly reddened, “I was beaten. But it’s good you’re back—they won’t dare bully me when you’re here.”
Deng Ying lowered his head, “Be more careful from now on. If anything happens, go to your godfather, or find Chen Hua.”
Li Yu quickly asked, “Can’t I come to you anymore?”
“I—”
Before he could finish, Hu Xiang’s voice came from outside, “Superintendent Deng, are you in?”
Deng Ying released Li Yu and responded, “I’m here.”
“Please come out.”
“Yes.”
Deng Ying turned and walked out. Hu Xiang stood at the door with men from the Ceremonial Office, saying to Deng Ying, “His Majesty summons you to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.”
Deng Ying nodded, “May I ask one question?”
“Go ahead.”
“Has His Majesty issued an edict to release the Prime Minister?”
Hu Xiang gave a cold laugh, “What’s this, Superintendent Deng guessing he’s about to die?”
Deng Ying looked up directly, “Please inform me, Master of Ceremonies.”
Hu Xiang walked up to Deng Ying, “He’s been released. We’re taking you before His Majesty to face your crimes. You’re already wearing those chains, so we won’t bind you further. Just behave and follow along.”
Hearing these words, Deng Ying showed a faint smile and lowered his head, “Very well.”
Hu Xiang looked at his expression, truly puzzled. “You can still smile at death’s door? The Old Ancestor said no one will save you this time.”
Deng Ying replied quietly, “Then I have received what I sought.”
He raised his head, looking calmly at Hu Xiang. “Master Hu, take me there.”
Hu Xiang had no response, only giving a cold snort, “Fine, let’s go.”
Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Deng Ying saw many people—some he had dealt with before, others he was seeing for the first time.
Ji Ren, the Left Censor-in-Chief, stood on the moon terrace, watching Deng Ying climb the steps one by one.
Not even a bird’s cry could be heard at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but the sound of chains against the steps grew increasingly clear.
Everyone turned their gaze to Deng Ying, some with barely concealed smirks.
In the spring of the fourteenth year of Zhenning, the scholars with their delicate skin and fragile bones finally believed they had won a round in their decades-long struggle against the eunuchs.
Ji Ren said to Deng Ying, “I hear you were once a jinshi scholar, a student of the Prime Minister.”
“Yes.”
Ji Ren continued, “Betraying one’s benefactor cannot last.”
Deng Ying looked at Ji Ren, “I humbly receive the Censor-in-Chief’s instruction.”
Ji Ren hadn’t expected such a humble and docile attitude, leaving him momentarily speechless. But with the other censors watching, he had to speak, “Even now, you dare to be so arrogant!”
Deng Ying raised his head, “How am I being arrogant?”
Ji Ren was taken aback.
Deng Ying turned around, “I know what the Censor-in-Chief fears. Please be at ease—I know my crimes are unforgivable, and I won’t try to argue before His Majesty.”
A young censor behind Ji Ren said, “You don’t dare argue before His Majesty. But once you’re in the Three Offices, who would dare judge you fairly?”
Deng Ying paused mid-step.
The man stepped forward and continued, “Prime Minister Bai submitted a memorial impeaching you. Now he’s been persecuted until he can’t walk. Eastern Depot agents lurk throughout the capital, infiltrating everywhere, and terrorizing officials and commoners alike. Any righteous person in the Three Offices would likely meet with disaster before even reaching the court.”
Deng Ying clenched his hands and turned to look at Ji Ren and the others.
“Then what would you have me do?”
No one spoke.
Deng Ying coughed once, “Take my own life?”
Ji Ren raised his hand to stop those behind him, looking up at Deng Ying, “No one has said such things to you.”
Deng Ying asked, “Do the gentlemen believe in the Great Ming Code?”
Ji Ren nodded.
“Of course we do.”
“If you believe, then speak no more—too many words breed too many mistakes. I will humbly submit to trial, respect the Great Ming Criminal Code, and ask the gentlemen to take care of themselves.”
With that, he turned and walked straight through the hall doors without looking back.