“I’ll go see him.”
“…”
Yang Lun thought he had misheard, staring as he asked, “What did you say?”
“I said since you don’t know how to protect me, then hand me over.”
If his wife hadn’t been shielding her, Yang Lun truly feared he wouldn’t have been able to control himself from slapping her right there.
He paced back and forth anxiously in the ancestral hall, clutching his hands, finally stopping in front of Yang Wan and shouting, “I’ve protected you for eighteen years, and now you want me to hand you over? Do you think you’re some important figure in the capital who can split off and make decisions for the Yang household? Or do you think I’m dead? That you need to take charge yourself?”
Xiao Wen heard the protectiveness in his words and hurriedly tried to mediate, “In the end, you just care for this girl. Why talk of ‘death’ and ‘life’? It sounds so frightening. In my opinion, we need to think carefully about how to weather this storm – that’s what’s important.”
Yang Lun was half-pulled, half-coaxed back a step by her. He walked to the shadowed doorway, hands behind his back, and after a long silence, barely containing his emotions, waved his hand saying, “I’ll go see Zhang Luo.”
Xiao Wen asked, “Last time you went to see him, he wouldn’t meet you. This time he’s come personally – could something be wrong?”
Yang Lun laughed, “Of course something’s wrong. He didn’t come alone – there are Embroidered Uniform Guard officers outside.”
“He brought the Guard… What… what is he planning to do?”
“It’s not surprising. Questioning officials is the responsibility of the Northern Judicial Commissioner’s Office.”
Xiao Wen’s voice trembled slightly, “Then why are you still going?”
“That was all angry talk earlier. If I don’t go, should we let her go instead? As long as I’m not dead, no one in this family will suffer unclear humiliation. This man handles secret matters for His Majesty; he rarely reveals his true intentions. But since he’s come this time, I’ll see what blade he’s hiding under his robes.”
Xiao Wen felt a chill run down her spine.
“Why don’t you avoid this meeting, and I’ll go speak with Madam Jiang at the Zhang household…”
“You needn’t show your face. They’ll have nothing good to say when they see you. Stay and look after Mother.”
After speaking, he turned to Yang Wan, “And you, just keep kneeling here. Don’t think of going anywhere.”
Yang Wan refused to accept this show of “concern.”
“My kneeling here only disturbs the ancestors, and the voices outside won’t quiet down.”
Fearing Yang Wan would provoke Yang Lun’s anger again, Xiao Wen quickly said to her, “Wan’er, just listen to your brother’s words. He will protect you well.”
Yang Wan brushed aside Xiao Wen, pressed her hands on her knees, straightened her upper body, and raised her head to look into Yang Lun’s eyes. “Brother should understand that this matter isn’t something the Yang and Zhang families wanted to create – it was dug up by those outside who thrive on chaos. Both our families are laughingstocks, and to maintain any dignity, one side must be forced to yield. If we yield and break the engagement, it means I admit to losing my virtue before marriage. If the Zhang family yields and marries me, they disgrace themselves. Either way, it’s all very entertaining outside, with a basketful of malicious talk, so this storm isn’t something to be avoided at all.”
Though she seemed to be speaking about her affairs, her perspective wasn’t centered on herself, nor was it confined merely to the Yang family’s interests.
Yang Lun was stunned.
Xiao Wen found it even more incredible.
Yang Wan took this opportunity to sit up, and as blood suddenly flowed back to her knees, the sensation nearly made her cry. She lowered her head and, disregarding Yang Lun’s presence, rolled up her trouser legs. “This is just tormenting your own family to settle your anger. I know brother is angry that I don’t understand things, and if brother could truly calm his anger through this, I wouldn’t mind enduring it. But after venting your anger at me, don’t you still have to face difficulties outside? So what’s the point of this?”
As she spoke, she reached to massage her knees.
Seeing the bruised kneecaps, Xiao Wen felt heartache and quickly grabbed her hands, “Wan’er, don’t rub them.”
Yang Wan pulled her hands away, “Sister-in-law, don’t mind me. I need to numb myself through this pain, otherwise, how will I be able to stand later?”
After speaking, she drew in a breath, closed her eyes, and pressed hard on her knees. Though it indeed helped blood flow and relieved the numbness, leaving her “refreshed,” it made Xiao Wen clench her teeth watching.
“Ah… heavens, Yin’er, help me up.”
“This…”
Yin’er instinctively looked toward Yang Lun.
Yang Lun, bewildered by the unprecedented calmness and courage in her voice, couldn’t help but ask, “When did you think of all this?”
Seeing Yin’er’s timidity, Yang Wan didn’t count on her help and struggled to stand up herself. She patted the dust from her knees, stood straight, and walked before Yang Lun. Though she was much shorter than him, she insisted on meeting his eyes before speaking.
“Haven’t I been thinking about this while confined here these past days? I’ve thought of a way out and planned my escape route. I can save myself and also make it impossible for Zhang Luo to trouble our Yang family.”
Hearing these words, Yang Lun suddenly laughed and raised his arm to point at Yang Wan’s forehead, “What are you being so arrogant about? What escape route do you have now? If Zhang Luo breaks off this engagement, I’ll have to keep you here for life. Yet you still talk of saving yourself? I…”
“Since you have no solution, won’t you at least hear me out?”
“You… Fine.”
Yang Lun stifled with anger, pulled over a cushion, and forcefully pushed it by his feet, sitting cross-legged, “I’ll listen to what you have to say.”
Seeing him seated, Yang Wan softened her tone, “Good, since brother is willing to listen, let me first ask you and sister-in-law something: do you believe I am still a virgin?”
Hearing the word “virgin,” Yang Lun immediately stiffened his neck, and even Xiao Wen couldn’t speak.
“Just answer me.”
She crossed her arms, and though discussing her own body, her voice was crisp and clear.
This difference in female body consciousness was separated by eras – something Yang Lun and Xiao Wen could never understand.
Yang Lun could bear it no longer and could only rebuke her: “Who taught you to speak so wildly? Is this something you should be saying? Even if your sister-in-law and I believe you, what do people outside think? You say you understand things now, but I don’t think you even know what loss you’re suffering!”
“What people outside think is all empty talk. Rumors are rumors because no matter how true they sound, they can’t get to the real truth. Before Deng Ying was tortured, he was indeed condemned as a traitor by the Three Judicial Offices, but it was different after his torture. He’s now part of the Directorate of Ceremonial – this was Chief Eunuch He Yixian’s suggestion to the Three Offices, and the Emperor approved it. So regardless of his motives, He Yixian won’t want outside dirt splashing onto the inner court. Moreover, with the urgent reconstruction of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, those in the Ministry of Works don’t want such matters distracting Deng Ying.”
Yang Lun countered, “So what?”
“Doesn’t brother understand yet?”
Yang Wan tilted her head, “Because of Deng Ying, Zhang Luo won’t dare to move against me.”