The flames burned in the snowy ground, releasing the genuine smoky scent of burning wood.
The familiar smell brought Yang Wan back to memories of winter break when she returned alone to her rural hometown.
The snow-covered ground was strewn with withered branches and leaves. The young people who had gone out to work hadn’t returned yet and everywhere was quiet. The girl next door was burning firewood, and when Yang Wan passed by, the family warmly invited her to share their fire. She looked like an outsider then, with her oversized down jacket, the iPad she could only use to play Fruit Ninja when there was no internet, and the hand cream she never left her bag without… everything about her seemed novel to the little girl.
But compared to the girl’s ease, Yang Wan could only huddle awkwardly behind the woodpile, fretting about her unfinished thesis. Unable to understand the local dialect, she became the awkward one in conversation. When the little girl offered her a roasted sweet potato, she even felt embarrassed to accept it.
“Yang Wan.”
“What?”
She came back to her senses, suddenly losing her balance and sitting down in the snow.
Deng Ying quickly helped her up, unable to hold back his laughter, “What are you doing?”
Yang Wan brushed the snow off herself and said to Deng Ying, “I was thinking how everything seemed to fall into place when you arrived. Although I’m caring for His Highness, I haven’t been able to give him a proper start to the New Year.”
“Don’t lose heart, Yang Wan.”
“I know.”
She turned to look at Hengshou Chamber, “He’s afraid of bringing trouble to the other instructors and attendants at Wenhua Hall. When the Northern Inspectorate came to question him, he barely spoke anymore.”
“His Highness is doing the right thing.”
Yang Wan turned back, “Then how will you question him?”
Deng Ying said, “Besides coming to see you both today, I also wanted to ask your thoughts.”
Yang Wan was startled, “Mine?”
“Yes.”
Yang Wan coughed, “What thoughts could I have?”
Deng Ying explained, “Although Huang Ran’s case is a criminal matter, it involves a prince and inner court privacy. His Majesty’s refusal to let the Three Judicial Offices intervene shows his intent to keep this case within the inner court. Since His Majesty has this intention, I should have room to maneuver in the Northern Inspectorate.”
Yang Wan pressed her temples, forcing herself to reconsider the Huang Ran case following Deng Ying’s logic.
His analysis aligned with the Ming history’s erasure of the Huang Ran case. Emperor Zhenning’s confinement of Yi Lang, ordering the Northern Inspectorate and Eastern Depot to jointly question him, and even sending officials to reprimand him – all were meant to make his son fear military and paternal authority. In reality, he only wanted to deal with Huang Ran and those instructors who had occasionally spoken out of turn.
“Has the Northern Inspectorate tortured Huang Ran?”
“Yes, they’re now forcing him to explain the meaning of a poem.”
Yang Wan looked up, “Poem? What poem?”
“‘I pray spring’s brightness descends today, to melt three feet of ice in the mortal world.'”
“Huang Ran wrote that?”
“Yes, when he was drunk. But at this point, I think the poem’s meaning no longer matters.”
Yang Wan lowered her head and remained silent for a moment, “You think he won’t survive?”
Deng Ying nodded, “I had tried to delay the Imperial Guards and find a way to conceal that poem, but I hadn’t anticipated what happened at the New Year’s Eve banquet. It’s too late now. What I’m worried about now is your brother.”
“My brother? Why?”
Deng Ying explained, “This case can conclude in two ways. First, it ends with Huang Ran. Second, it reveals the ‘mastermind’ behind this crown prince debate and ends with them. Master Yang and Grand Secretary Bai have been advocating for land reform, but His Majesty is still hesitant. Several southern princes have already approached Minister He to petition the Emperor about the harm land reform would cause them. If His Majesty wavers on land reform, the Huang Ran case could easily implicate Master Yang.”
Yang Wan continued, “So this case needs to be concluded quickly.”
She finished speaking and held her head, her temples throbbing like needle pricks.
“What’s wrong?”
Yang Wan shook her head, “Nothing, Deng Ying, let me think…”
Just as she finished speaking, the door to Hengshou Chamber suddenly opened.
Deng Ying turned to see Yi Lang standing barefoot in the doorway, silently watching the two of them by the stove.
Seeing this, Yang Wan quickly stood and rushed to Yi Lang, “Why aren’t you wearing shoes? Come, let’s go inside, and I’ll help Your Highness put on your shoes.”
Yang Wan was anxious to take Yi Lang away.
Ever since that day outside Chengqian Palace, when she witnessed Yi Lang’s treatment of Deng Ying, she didn’t want them to meet again.
Although Deng Ying had told her just to watch, she still didn’t want to see him humbly extend his hand toward those shackles she despised.
“Commander Deng, please… go back first…”
She tried to lead Yi Lang inside, but he didn’t move. Instead, he looked up at Deng Ying and said, “Official Deng, don’t leave. I have questions for you.”
“Your Highness…”
“Yang Wan.”
Deng Ying called to Yang Wan, then smiled and shook his head at her before walking to Yi Lang and kneeling, “This servant greets Your Highness.”
Yi Lang looked down at him, “Father Emperor has confined me here and forbidden anyone to visit. Since you can see me, you must be His Imperial Envoy sent to question me. If this is questioning, why aren’t you wearing your official robes?”
“This servant didn’t want to offend Your Highness.”
Yi Lang said, “You don’t want to offend me because of my aunt? You still desire my aunt.”
Deng Ying remained silent. Yang Wan crouched down and drew Yi Lang into her arms, “Your Highness…”