She had barely begun when Yi Lang interrupted, “Although I am imprisoned, my teachers taught me that at any time, we must maintain imperial dignity. I would rather you strictly question me on behalf of the sovereign than show me sympathy because of my aunt!”
Yang Wan was taken aback.
She had been pained by Yi Lang’s humiliation under imperial and paternal authority, but had overlooked that he too was someone who lived by imperial power.
As she pondered this, she unconsciously drew her clothes tighter.
The snowy wind whistled against Deng Ying’s back and across Yang Wan and Yi Lang’s faces.
While Yang Wan was unsure how to reconcile these two, Deng Ying spoke.
“This servant doesn’t want to question Your Highness, because Your Highness has done nothing wrong.”
He finished speaking and raised his head to look at Yi Lang.
One kneeling, one standing, yet they could look each other in the eye. “Even if this servant questions on behalf of the Emperor, this servant is unwilling to slight Your Highness. Though Your Highness is confined and temporarily restrained, please don’t be distressed. The actions Your Highness has taken here have moved the hearts of the officials in Wenhua Hall.”
Hearing these words, Yi Lang quickly asked, “Do my teachers know I didn’t mean to harm them?”
“Yes.”
Deng Ying nodded, “Your Highness has done very well.”
Yi Lang smiled at Yang Wan – though brief, it was the first smile she had seen from Yi Lang in seven days.
“You may rise.”
Deng Ying bowed again, “This servant is guilty and dares not rise.”
Yi Lang looked down and said, “My aunt doesn’t like me being harsh with you, and I don’t want to see my aunt unhappy. Considering you haven’t overstepped bounds to offend my aunt, I won’t rebuke you today. You may rise.”
“Yes, this servant thanks Your Highness for your mercy.”
As he finished speaking and stood up supporting himself on the ground, the cold pain in his ankles almost made him stumble.
Yang Wan looked at his ankles, “Does it hurt?”
Deng Ying shook his head and said softly, “Don’t ask me such things in front of His Highness. Help His Highness put on his shoes.”
Only then did Yang Wan remember that Yi Lang had come out barefoot. She quickly led him to sit on the couch and turned to move the charcoal brazier closer.
When she turned back, she saw Deng Ying kneeling before Yi Lang, letting Yi Lang rest his feet on his knee while he carefully arranged the shoes and socks.
“Let me do it…”
Deng Ying didn’t turn around, “It’s all the same. Bring the brazier closer to His Highness, it’s too cold.”
He then unfastened his robe and wrapped Yi Lang’s feet in his embrace.
Yang Wan looked at his kneeling leg, where the trouser leg revealed thick bandaging, showing that his old ankle injury had been acting up severely in these days of heavy snow. But because he had said not to ask such things in front of Yi Lang, Yang Wan decided to respect his wishes.
She touched Yi Lang’s hand, “Be good and put on your shoes and socks properly, then go warm yourself by the brazier. Aunt will go make you noodles.”
Then she looked at Deng Ying.
He was focused on tying Yi Lang’s socks. Yang Wan hesitated, but couldn’t help saying, “Would Your Highness also allow Official Deng to warm himself for a while?”
Yi Lang didn’t speak, only nodded.
Only then did Yang Wan push open the door and walk back to the courtyard.
Near noon, it began to snow.
Being spring snow, it was very fine and light, melting hastily the moment it touched skin.
The firewood crackled like muffled firecrackers that wouldn’t pop.
Yang Wan carefully avoided the sparks, bent down to roll up her sleeves, and put the loosened noodles into the pot.
As she gently stirred the boiling water, she remembered the last time she had made noodles for Deng Ying, by the city moat in early autumn. Back then, right after Zhang Zhanchun’s death, she had also told Deng Ying, “Don’t be sad, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Now the same words, coming from Deng Ying’s mouth, had comforted Yi Lang.
Thinking about this, Yang Wan couldn’t help but smile.
Although at that time, Deng Ying still considered himself a sinner, her words must have comforted him too.
“Is it ready?”
The door creaked as Deng Ying walked out of Hengshou Chamber alone, “Let me help you.”
“No need.” Yang Wan waved him away, “I’m quite skilled at making noodles now.”
As she lifted the noodles out and ladled them into bowls, she said, “I see you have something wrapped around your ankles. Is it the handkerchief I gave you last time? Isn’t it a bit thin? I’ll give you a thicker one when I get out.”
“How could I waste your things on my feet? I don’t even dare to wear them on my body.”
Yang Wan lifted the hibiscus jade pendant at her waist, caressing the wooden bead as she said, “But I never want to part with your gifts.”
Deng Ying looked down at the bead, his gaze softening: “Let me carve you another one, to make a pair.”
“What can I give you in return?”
Deng Ying pointed behind Yang Wan, “I want to eat noodles.”
Yang Wan replied, “Alright.”
She turned and added, “Wait until I serve them and bring them inside, we can eat together.”
Deng Ying shook his head, “His Highness won’t allow it. Don’t make him unhappy again, I’ll be the one who suffers.”
He bent down to pick up the bowl, “I’ll eat standing outside. You hurry inside. When Wuying Hall’s location was originally chosen, it was meant to be a Buddhist temple, but because the northern air was too strong, they changed the design during construction. It’s starting to snow today, make sure to close all the doors and windows tightly. I just noticed His Highness has a slight fever. I’ll go out later and have the Imperial Guards summon the Imperial Physician for him. Take care of yourself too.”
“Fever…”
Yang Wan suddenly looked up, “I have a way to conclude the Huang Ran case, but it might hurt… no… never mind…”
She shook her head, “Forget what I said.”
Deng Ying silently looked at Yang Wan, and after a moment suddenly said, “It’s alright.”