“Tell me.”
Yang Wan looked away, “How is Qingbo Pavilion now?”
“It’s closed, though when I went to look a few days ago, the seals had been removed.”
Yang Wan nodded.
“Their owners probably won’t return. Kuanqin Hall and several other publishing houses might want to take it over. Help me watch it, don’t let it be sold.”
Qin Wende asked, “What does my lady want to do?”
Yang Wan pressed her lips together, “I want to buy it.”
Buying Qingbo Pavilion didn’t require much silver, but not only buying it but wanting to keep operating it would require considerable funds.
After Deng Ying could get out of bed, Yang Wan took half a day and had He Yu invite Song Yunqing to Chengqian Palace.
Walking with Yang Wan into the side room of the rear hall, Song Yunqing said, “I heard some big news.”
“What news?”
Song Yunqing spoke in riddles, “A son arresting his father – this is the first time in this dynasty.”
Hearing this, Yang Wan pressed her lips together and pushed open the window, “Tell me more.”
Song Yunqing said:
“Winter’s coming, and Chen Hua has been handling charcoal duties outside these past few days. I heard from him that Zhang Luo personally arrested Vice Minister Zhang from his home and imprisoned him in the imperial prison. The capital is in an uproar over this. Don’t you think the Minister of Justice is too ruthless?”
Hearing these words, Yang Wan quickly turned to ask, “Was this today?”
“Early this morning, Chen Hua saw it at Xihua Gate.”
Yang Wan’s shoulders suddenly relaxed.
Song Yunqing continued: “Vice Minister Zhang is an elder statesman of two reigns – to arrest him just like that, who knows what will happen? Though he probably can’t return to the cabinet or continue as the young prince’s teacher anymore. Speaking of which, who will the Hanlin Academy choose?”
Yang Wan nodded absently, not bothering to answer her question.
In history, Zhang Rong had been a minister of the Jinghe reign. If Song Yunqing’s words were true, then that piece of history she knew had truly been altered by her actions.
“Oh right… *cough cough*”
Song Yunqing coughed several times from the dust in the side room, waving her sleeve to fan it away, “Why did you bring me here?”
Yang Wan bent down to open a box, and Song Yunqing was dazzled by the gold and silver inside.
“Is this… yours?”
“No. It was left by Noble Consort Ning. I want to sort through it and calculate its value, but Deng Ying was injured and I’ve been too busy these past few days, so I asked for your help.”
Song Yunqing crouched down, “Why sort through these now?”
Yang Wan replied, “Preparing them for the young prince. The new year is coming soon.”
Song Yunqing smiled, “Alright, I’ll help you count. It’s been a long time since we worked together.”
Yang Wan smiled, “Have you thought about working with me after leaving the palace?”
Song Yunqing laughed, “I’ve saved some money, enough to live a simple life. After leaving the palace, I’ll find a place to settle down, and live quietly by myself.”
Yang Wan nodded, smiling, “That’s good too.”
She handed her a brush.
They counted separately, and by dusk had completed less than half.
Yang Wan looked at the sky, estimating Yi Lang would soon return from his studies.
Song Yunqing straightened up, “You go look after the prince. This won’t be finished quickly – I’ll count a bit more. I’m not on duty the day after tomorrow, I’ll come to help you finish counting then.”
Yang Wan nodded, and just as she reached the central courtyard, He Yu came up saying, “The Superintendent brought the young prince back.”
Yang Wan was startled, about to hurry to the study, but He Yu held her back saying, “Don’t worry, my lady. Qing Meng said His Highness met the Superintendent on the road. They talked while walking back, with no arguments.”
Hearing this, Yang Wan calmed somewhat.
“Where are they?”
“His Highness asked the Superintendent to the study.”
Yang Wan lightened her steps, quietly walking outside the study.
The charcoal inside burned warmly, waves of warm air escaping through the door crack.
Yi Lang and Deng Ying stood together under the lamp, Yi Lang looking up at Deng Ying.
“Today I questioned Vice Minister Zhang and learned about the Qingbo Pavilion case, but I don’t understand why the teacher would do such things.”
Deng Ying crouched down.
His wounds weren’t fully healed, and being unsteady, he supported himself on the windowsill.
He looked up at Yi Lang, “Has Your Highness read Lord Yang’s ‘Land Clearing Policy’?”
Yi Lang nodded, “Yes, Uncle wants to return fields to the people and implement new tax systems in the south.”
“Mm. What does Your Highness think?”
Yi Lang was silent for a moment, “I think returning fields to the people and basing taxes on land are policies that benefit the people.”
“What does Lord Zhang think?”
“Teacher…”
Yi Lang lowered his head, “Teacher has never quite approved of this new policy. He says ancestral systems shouldn’t be lightly violated.”
Deng Ying coughed once, “So does Your Highness understand now?”
Yi Lang’s eyes reddened as he nodded silently, then looked up and said, “Is this… what they call factional struggle?”
“Yes.”
Deng Ying closed his eyes and took a breath, “Throughout history, factional struggles in officialdom have been unavoidable, but Your Highness need not fear. You only need to choose from their political views those positions that benefit both country and people.”
Though Yi Lang nodded upon hearing this, his eyes grew increasingly red. He raised his sleeve to wipe his eyes, then continued pressing his lips together to hold back tears.
Deng Ying asked, “May this servant ask why Your Highness is distressed?”
Yi Lang shook his head, “I feel like all the principles I learned before were false.”
“No.”
Deng Ying switched his supporting leg, his other hand also bracing against the ground, “Your Highness must understand, the ‘Zhenguan Political Principles,’ ‘Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government,’ the Four Books and Five Classics are all works that ancient worthies poured their hearts and souls into. They teach Your Highness how to conduct yourself, as they once taught this servant how to deal with the world. Who put these books before Your Highness is not important – what’s important is whether Your Highness’s character can resonate with these ancient worthies.”
The candlelight flickered, two lamps going out, casting shadows across Deng Ying’s face.
“Deng Ying.”
Yi Lang called to him.
Deng Ying raised his head and responded, “This servant is here.”
“I was so harsh with you, why are you still willing to tell me these things?”
Deng Ying smiled slightly, “When Your Highness is free of doubts, we can all be free of doubts. When Your Highness is clear-minded, all under heaven can be clear-minded.”
After hearing this, Yi Lang lowered his head and was silent for a long time.
“Before… I had never punished anyone, I didn’t know it would…”
“Your Highness did nothing wrong.”
Deng Ying interrupted, “Your Highness punished this servant for disrespecting your aunt. This servant bears it on his body and remembers it in his heart. But I hope Your Highness can know that punishment is cruel, and be careful in its use.”