“Smells good, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s been so long since I’ve had this.”
Yang Wan rested her chin in her hand, looking at him, “If I hadn’t come, you wouldn’t eat anything tonight?”
“Mm.”
Deng Ying responded sincerely while eating, his nose making an affirming sound, then suddenly realized his answer wasn’t right and quickly put down his chopsticks to correct himself, “No, I would eat.”
Yang Wan didn’t expose his lie, carefully lifted her noodles, and took a sip of the soup. “Will you be there for the execution tomorrow?”
Deng Ying shook his head while chewing, “I asked Qin Wende to go.”
“Oh.”
Yang Wan picked up some noodles but didn’t bring them to her mouth.
Deng Ying looked up at her, “Are you going?”
“Yes, all six departments will be there, so I have to go.”
“Then should I…”
“No need, Deng Ying.”
Yang Wan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, took a bite of noodles, and said softly, “Don’t worry, I’m not the person who gets sick at the smell of blood anymore. And…”
She paused, then continued in a deep voice while eating her noodles, “I won’t get sick anymore.”
She then took another large bite of noodles.
“Wan’er.”
“Mm?”
Deng Ying folded his arms on the table and brought up something Yang Wan hadn’t expected.
“I want to… buy a house outside.”
“Why?”
“Don’t misunderstand, I’m not trying to accumulate private wealth. The house doesn’t need to be big, just a single-courtyard compound would be fine, new or old doesn’t matter, I can do some work on it myself. I want to buy it… and keep it there.”
Yang Wan stopped her chopsticks, “Why are you suddenly thinking of this?”
Deng Ying lowered his head, not telling Yang Wan the truth.
What was he afraid of? He was afraid that, like Zheng Yuejia, he would be unable to leave anything for Consort Ning.
So he wanted to leave a house for Yang Wan—this was the easiest thing for him, and what he was best at.
He could design and build the courtyard himself, and make the cabinets and drawers with his own hands.
Whether or not Yang Wan would have her own home in the future, she could visit occasionally, just like visiting him.
That house would be like a Deng Ying who had never experienced all of this.
Never punished, never became a factory supervisor, had no crimes to his name, just a young man who had built many houses, worthy of remembrance.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Yang Wan’s gaze was somewhat worried.
Deng Ying pulled back from his thoughts, smiled, and raised his hand to brush away the scallion stuck to her mouth.
“I have no descendants or relatives left, but I should have a home, right? What if I’m old someday and His Majesty shows mercy and allows me to leave the palace? Then I’d have a place to live.”
Yang Wan nodded after hearing this, “Then buy it, and have Qin Wende and others look for one for you.”
Deng Ying smiled at her, “Which area does Wan’er like?”
Yang Wan thought about it seriously for a moment, “Near Guangji Temple would be best, it’s lively there and close to my brother’s home.”
“Good.”
“Eh… no, no, the courtyards there are all very expensive.”
“It doesn’t matter. Is facing west good?”
“Yes, the west is warm, your feet get cold, and it will be worse when you’re old…”
She suddenly choked up when she said the word “old.”
Indeed, Yang Wan was also quietly deceiving Deng Ying.
Historical records showed that when Deng Ying was executed, he was still young—heaven hadn’t given him the privilege of growing old.
“Let’s make it west-facing, it’s decided.”
Yang Wan swallowed, holding back the burning in her throat, “In winter, we’ll hang especially thick cotton curtains, and I can make ankle warmers for you.”
Deng Ying couldn’t help but laugh. “You know how to make those?”
“I’ll learn.”
Yang Wan pressed her lips together, “It’s not difficult, and besides, though I’m clumsy with my hands, you’re skilled. I can draw designs for you to make boxes and cabinets and such. And we can set up a swing in the courtyard—you know how to make a swing, right?”
“Yes.”
“See, how perfect.”
She clasped her hands together, trying her best to smile naturally.
Deng Ying smiled at her, “You talk as if you’re going to live there with me.”
Yang Wan said, “I am going to live there with you.”
She turned away to rub her eyes, then turned back after taking a deep breath.
“Deng Ying, when you’re old, you’ll be a mild-tempered little old man, finishing all the housework, and probably have some money too. I’ll just relax every day, go around eating and drinking with you, at most help you shell some nuts. I’m telling you, you must grow old, I absolutely must see what you look like when you’re old.”
“Alright.”