After the Awakening of Insects, the Needlework Bureau and the Headwear Bureau began cutting summer clothes for the inner court, and affairs everywhere suddenly became busy.
At this time, one of the Emperor’s palace servants, Lady Jiang, became pregnant and was to be appointed Noble Lady.
Although both Lady Jiang and Madam Liang maintained a neutral attitude toward this consort who hadn’t been selected through civilian screening, since the Emperor now had only Prince Han Zhu Yilang as an heir, the mother’s status would rise with her child. The people of the Office of Ceremonies all went along with Yanxi Palace’s tide, and the Six Bureaus couldn’t be negligent either. Once the appointment decree came out, the entire Department of Ceremonies was thrown into chaos by this unexpected ceremonial appointment. Though Yang Wan was only a clerk handling document circulation in the Department of Ceremonies, she was so entangled by people from the Historical Records Repository at Huiji Gate that she couldn’t get away for several days.
Additionally, in Chengqian Palace, Consort Ning had caught a cold, which after dragging on for some days had become quite serious.
Yang Wan was exhausted daily going between Chengqian Palace and the Department of Ceremonies. When she occasionally squeezed out time to look for Deng Ying, she never managed to meet him.
From the fourth month of Zhenning’s twelfth year until the Tongjia Tragedy in the autumn of the same year, historical records about Deng Ying are almost blank.
For historical research, a lack of records either means peaceful times or matters too sensitive to mention.
Yang Wan wasn’t quite sure whether Deng Ying fell into the former or latter category, so she always felt somewhat uneasy.
However, Consort Ning was seriously ill, and Yilang was anxious, always looking for Yang Wan at night. Both emotionally and rationally, Yang Wan felt she couldn’t abandon them at this time.
This evening, Consort Ning was coughing severely again. After drinking the medicine served by Heyu, she tossed and turned on her couch for quite a while before finally falling asleep.
After putting Yilang to sleep, Yang Wan stood by the brocade screen waiting for Heyu. Seeing her come out, she gave her a meaningful look.
Heyu understood and came close to Yang Wan’s ear, whispering: “I think these symptoms are caused by the Noble Lady Jiang affair.”
Yang Wan asked softly: “Does Her Highness care about such things?”
Heyu shook her head, “Her Highness doesn’t care much about these things, but she’s always been someone who values dignity and respect. Recently when serving in the Emperor’s chambers…”
As she spoke, she glanced at the inner chamber again, “I’m only telling you this because you’re Her Highness’s sister. Just listen and don’t ask more, alright?”
Yang Wan nodded.
“Yes, I understand.”
Heyu led Yang Wan a few steps into the outer chamber and lowered her voice: “When Her Highness returned from serving the Emperor recently, I felt she was quite unhappy, but these are private matters – I can’t ask, only guess. I think… Her Highness probably received some words from His Majesty.”
What kind of words could they be? Naturally, words are spoken too boldly in bed.
Yang Wan didn’t want to know at all.
She had already heard many female servants in the Department of Ceremonies privately discuss Lady Jiang’s usual conduct, and Yang Wan certainly wouldn’t want to be compared to her.
“Lady Yang.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you returning to the Fifth Bureau tonight?”
Yang Wan rolled down the sleeves on her arms and replied: “I won’t go back. I’ll keep watch over Her Highness tonight. You all haven’t rested well for several nights. While I’m here, go get some early rest.”
“Ah.”
Heyu sighed, “You never say you’re tired, how dare we claim to be tired? However, you staying with Her Highness can comfort her better – much better than us servants who have mouths but no tongue. I’ll go get you a blanket, the nights are still cold.”
“Alright.”
After speaking, Yang Wan walked around the brocade screen into the inner chamber.
Warm smoke flowed from the gilt beast-head incense burner.
The bed curtains hung before her. Opposite the bed was placed a rosewood incense table, with a single white porcelain vase sparsely arranged with pine branches on top. Though these were all cold and austere items, looking at them didn’t make one feel chilly.
Consort Ning seemed to be sleeping soundly, only occasionally coughing once or twice.
Yang Wan sat in the round chair beside the incense table, moved the lamp closer to illuminate her lap, and opened her notebook.
Her notes had stopped on the day she parted from Deng Ying at the Inner Study.
There was no follow-up to the Liuli Factory case.
Between the words “Office of Ceremonies” and “Grand Secretariat,” Yang Wan drew a little figure of Deng Ying, but after finishing she thought it looked ugly and was about to dip her brush in ink to cover it when she suddenly heard Consort Ning coughing severely.
She hurriedly put down her things, got up and walked to the couch, raised the bed curtain with her hand, and bent down to ask: “Would Your Highness like some tea?”
Consort Ning sat up and waved her hand.
“I saw you sitting under the lamp lost in thought, and wanted to tell you to put on some clothes.”
Yang Wan casually grabbed a padded jacket hanging on the wooden rack and put it on brought the lamp closer and sat sideways on the edge of the couch.
“This is fine now, Your Highness should be the one careful not to catch a cold.”
Consort Ning watched her put on her clothes and couldn’t help but shake her head with a smile: “What kind of protocol is this, you’re still a palace servant of the Department of Ceremonies.”
Then she added, “But… really, seeing you like this makes me feel a bit like we’re at home.”
Yang Wan tucked the blanket around her.
“If we were at home, Your Highness would tell this servant what’s on her mind.”
Consort Ning was startled.
“You… noticed?”
“It was Heyu who noticed, I’m too stupid to know such things.”
Consort Ning touched Yang Wan’s forehead, “Sister is fine. You’re busy with affairs at the Department of Ceremonies, don’t think too much.”
“Why should I busy myself with her affairs?”