So she would always secretly ask Li Yu to slip him nuts before Deng Ying returned to his quarters, and to Yang Wan’s relief and joy, no matter how many nuts she sent each day, Deng Ying would eat them all by the next day.
Today when she went to deliver the nuts, she found the drawer where Deng Ying usually kept them was open. She took out the jar to add the new nuts she’d brought, and unexpectedly found a small wooden lotus flower carving inside. Though tiny, every petal’s texture was visible, and when Yang Wan held it in her hand for a closer look, she discovered the flower base even had a hole through it – it could serve as a bead for hanging on a jade pendant.
She quickly undid her jade pendant and threaded this lotus bead onto the hanging cord.
This response was restrained, but Yang Wan loved it so much that throughout the day, she couldn’t help touching the flower bead now and then.
Now she was standing with her eyes closed, fidgeting with the bead to pass the time, when she suddenly saw several people from the Office of Careful Conduct approach. She worried briefly about Consort Ning, but when she saw they were escorting Secretary Zheng Yuejia from the Directorate of Ceremonial, she didn’t think much of it.
However, shortly after, Heyu hurriedly came down from the terrace and, without waiting for Yang Wan to speak, pulled her behind it.
Seeing Heyu’s troubled expression, Yang Wan quickly asked, “What’s happened?”
Heyu looked outside to ensure no one was coming, then held Yang Wan’s hand and said, “Lady Yang, Her Grace asked me to ask if you have any way to save Lord Zheng.”
“Lord Zheng? What’s wrong with him?”
Heyu lowered her voice, “His Majesty has ordered him beaten to death.”
“Beaten to death? Why?”
“I don’t know. Today His Majesty spent two hours reviewing memorials, then suddenly became angry and called for the Office of Careful Conduct, saying to drag Lord Zheng to the Meridian Gate. When Her Grace heard this inside, she looked very distressed, her eyes even turned red.”
Yang Wan had no time to wonder why Consort Ning wanted her to save Zheng Yuejia, but she waved at Heyu, “Don’t panic, let me think for a moment.”
She turned around and lowered her head, recalling the events of the past few days.
Zhang Zhanchun’s death had sparked a “literary tide” in the capital. Yang Wan tried to gauge Bai Huan and others’ attitudes, guessing the Cabinet likely wasn’t siding with the Emperor this time. The Emperor, overwhelmed by the scholars’ pressure, suddenly vented his anger on the third-ranking official of the Directorate of Ceremonial, but this was an impulsive act without the Cabinet’s support. Killing Zheng Yuejia would indirectly acknowledge the Directorate’s guilt.
Realizing this, she quickly turned back, “Heyu.”
“I’m listening.”
“Go tell Her Grace to ask His Majesty: if Lord Zheng is executed today, what about Chief Hu tomorrow?”
Heyu hesitated, “Will… will just saying that save Lord Zheng?”
“Yes, ask Her Grace to try, but please remind her not to show red eyes when speaking. She is an Imperial Consort, and this is for His Majesty’s benefit.”
After saying this, she suddenly paused.
Yes, this was for His Majesty’s benefit, so why had Consort Ning’s eyes turned red earlier?
In her moment of revelation, Yang Wan recalled what Consort Ning had once told her: “Wan’er, don’t walk this path with that person in the palace, you won’t be happy.”
So…
“Wait, Heyu.”
She quickly ran several steps to catch up with Heyu.
Heyu turned around, “Do you have more messages for Her Grace?”
“Tell Her Grace that she must stay calm no matter what. Whether Lord Zheng can be saved depends entirely on whether His Majesty believes Her Grace truly has his interests at heart. She absolutely cannot let His Majesty feel she’s pleading for Lord Zheng, or not only will Lord Zheng die, but Her Grace will also suffer. Make sure Her Grace understands this!”
Though Heyu didn’t fully understand, she nodded seriously before hurrying back up to the terrace.
Watching Heyu’s retreating figure, Yang Wan suddenly felt short of breath.
So her understanding, protection, and tolerance of Yang Wan, so different from Yang Lun and others, was because she had such feelings in her heart.
Lost in thought, Yang Wan couldn’t help looking up at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The bright lights inside the hall couldn’t cast any shadows on the people within.
Like seeing through worldly affairs with a Buddha’s heart casting no shadow, only to be drowned by wine brewed from human emotions and desires.
Yang Wan coughed twice in the wind, her breathing gradually steadying.
Soon, the hall doors opened again, and a eunuch ran down the terrace toward the Meridian Gate.
Yang Wan’s shoulders slumped in relief.
Leaning against the cold wall of the terrace, she looked up at the inscrutable sky above.
The historical records didn’t seem to specify exactly when Zheng Yuejia died.
If he was originally meant to die today, and Yang Wan’s actions had changed that, did it mean that this piece of history she inhabited also had the possibility of life?