“Without men’s pity, what do you rely on to live?”
Yang Wan pressed her lips together, “On my pity for you all.”
Zhang Luo ordered the guard, “Pull her up.”
Yang Wan was lifted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, before the strong men she was like a delicate vine flower, hanging there frailly. Zhang Luo raised his hand, but before his fingers could touch her chin, she said, “I don’t like being touched like this.”
Zhang Luo fell silent for a moment, slowly lowering his hand.
The guard presented the gathered herbs to Zhang Luo, who took them and held them out before Yang Wan’s eyes. Yang Wan looked at him warily but didn’t take them.
Zhang Luo tilted his chin up, looking down at her, “Yang Wan, I’m not as shameless as you think. My father betrayed imperial grace, he deserves punishment. I won’t take revenge for the Qingbo House case. Your crime of defying propriety and interfering in state affairs, I’ll note for now.”
He raised his arm, “Take your medicine back, and take care of yourself.”
The golden sun was setting in the west, casting long shadows everywhere.
Yang Wan held the medicine to her chest, and after a long while, finally managed to release the breath she’d been holding.
She pulled her clothes tight and hurried to the Inner Eastern Depot, but Deng Ying wasn’t in the office. Qin Wende told Yang Wan that tomorrow was the regular court, His Majesty would attend at Fengtian Gate, and the Directorate of Ceremonial was holding its customary grand deliberation today, which all supervisors had to attend.
Since the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, daily court sessions usually continued without interruption, rarely being canceled even in bad weather. Only when imperial consorts or princely relatives passed away would a court be suspended for one to three days as per “mourning ritual.” But by Emperor Zhenning’s reign, this had gradually become lax. From the fourth year of Zhenning, regular court sessions had been abolished, and daily administration completely handed over to the cooperation between the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Cabinet. Only for major state affairs would Emperor Zhenning attend court at Fengtian Gate.
Yang Wan calculated the time in the fourteenth year of Zhenning; the most recent imperial attendance at regular court was the twenty-third day of the first month – tomorrow.
Emperor Zhenning was obsessed with controlling state finances, typically holding grand deliberations on finance at the start of the year. This was vital to state survival – if not discussed well, it would be disastrous for the Ministry of Revenue, local taxation, and even border defense. Moreover, this year was the first year of implementing the “new field tax” in Hangzhou. Before the new year, the Cabinet had already presented the situation at Yangxin Hall, begging Emperor Zhenning to preside over the discussion.
When the emperor was to attend morning court, almost no one in the Directorate of Ceremonial could sleep the night before.
Deng Ying, having difficulty sitting for long, simply stood at his desk, bending to review the Ministry of Revenue’s memorials.
Under the eaves, melting snow fell in rhythmic drops outside the window. The charcoal fire in the main hall burned lower and lower. Two young eunuchs, seeing Deng Ying suffering from the cold, secretly moved the charcoal brazier closer to his feet.
“Is your leg troubling you again?”
He Yixian entered from outside, with Hu Xiang hurrying to help him remove his cape.
Deng Ying put down his brush, “Thank you for your concern, Elder Ancestor. At the change of seasons, it always aches for a few days.”
He Yixian walked up to him, “Can you still endure?”
“This servant can.”
“I think you need some rest.”
Deng Ying lowered his head without speaking. He Yixian said, “The Cabinet has already written the memorial impeaching you. Tomorrow at court, someone will read it aloud.”
Deng Ying’s hand holding the brush paused.
He Yixian continued, “Do you know who initiated it?”
“I don’t.”
“It was your teacher.”
Deng Ying slowly tightened his grip on the brush.
He Yixian watched his fingers, speaking evenly, “What good does it do to be kind to these people? Collecting rent from thousands of mu of school lands, yet this year you couldn’t even buy a two-courtyard residence. One might think the master treats you too harshly. Today I mentioned your illness and situation to the master. The master has a reward, telling you to receive it tomorrow.”
Deng Ying looked up, “What does Elder Ancestor mean?”
He Yixian clicked his tongue, “Both the master and I still care for you as a person.”