“What do you want to ask? Ask now.”
Yang Wan smiled, “I lied to you.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to ask anything, I even know why you’re taking my brother away.”
“What did you say?”
Yang Wan raised her head, “Did the owner of Qingbo House come to see you at the Northern Command?”
Zhang Luo started, then suddenly grabbed Yang Wan’s wrist, “How do you know?”
Yang Wan trembled in pain but showed no fear of him, “Because I wanted you to investigate this case you’re working on now.”
“You impersonated the Embroidered Uniform Guard at Qingbo House?”
“Yes.”
“Seize her.”
He gave the cold order, and several captains immediately came forward, grabbed Yang Wan’s shoulders, and forced her to kneel on the ground. When her knees touched the ground, the pain almost brought tears to her eyes, but she didn’t struggle. Instead, she lowered her head and laughed once, then looked up into Zhang Luo’s eyes: “Do you want to torture me again? On what grounds? Impersonating the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Then what? Did I extort money? Or harm lives? How will you charge me? Moreover, do you have any witnesses?”
Zhang Luo interrupted Yang Wan: “What exactly do you want to do?”
“Nothing.”
Yang Wan replied evenly: “Let you do what you want to do. Commander Zhang, you should have received the ‘Preface’ written by my sister now and should have submitted it to His Majesty. Next, you’ll investigate following this preface. Commander Zhang, I’ve always remembered what you told me—you won’t let His Majesty be deceived in any way. So you will investigate thoroughly. I only hope, sir, that when you touch upon the truth, you can treat the guilty ones the same way you treated me back then.”
Zhang Luo said coldly: “Just for these words alone, I can start investigating from you.”
Yang Wan shook her head and smiled: “Before, when I was a female official in the Imperial Dressing Bureau, you could take me away without informing anyone. Now, though I’m still a servant, I bear the responsibility of caring for the prince and managing palace affairs. Before taking me away, you need imperial permission. Without evidence or warrant, how will you explain my arrest to His Highness?”
Just as she finished speaking, Yi Lang’s voice suddenly came from the terrace.
“Deputy Commander Zhang.”
Zhang Luo looked up. Yi Lang stood at the terrace edge, holding the railing. He didn’t come down but looked down at everyone below, finally resting his gaze on Zhang Luo. “Why are you treating my aunt this way?”
Zhang Luo was about to reply after paying his respects, but heard Yi Lang continue: “Are you being so arrogant in front of Wenhua Palace because you think I’m young and my aunt is weak?”
After hearing these words, Zhang Luo changed to a kneeling position and said: “I dare not.”
“If you dare not, then release my aunt, or I will immediately report to my royal father and charge you with the crime of causing a disturbance at Wenhua Palace.”
Zhang Luo couldn’t rise, and could only raise his hand to signal his men to withdraw.
Yang Wan stood up supporting herself on the ground, looking up at Yi Lang.
Yi Lang’s face showed no obvious expression, “Aunt, come to me.”
After speaking, he pointed at Zhang Luo: “Until I inform my royal father, you may not rise.”
Zhang Luo knelt on the ground without responding.
Yi Lang looked at him and added: “Father established the Embroidered Uniform Guard to intimidate treacherous officials. Your treatment of my aunt greatly disgusts me.”