Beauty Chen said, “These aren’t the Emperor’s twenty-four departments anymore, they’re the Directorate of Ceremonial’s twenty-four departments.”
After speaking, she realized her indiscretion and lowered her head, changing the subject to cover it up.
“Director Song, having your brother accept a servant as a father… doesn’t it pain your heart?”
Song Yunqing smiled, “Your Grace is privileged and doesn’t understand our servants’ circumstances. Though we often disapprove of the Directorate of Ceremonial’s ways, these are men without sons. Once they have a child to care for them in their final years, they love them more than real fathers would. Li Yu has always been straightforward, prone to trouble, and has suffered many verbal humiliations. Before the Eastern Depot Chief’s protection, whenever he got into trouble, it was his godfather who saved him.”
Beauty Chen said, “I see the Eastern Depot Chief is different from the Directorate of Ceremonial people.”
Yang Wan remained silent, and Song Yunqing fell quiet too.
The wind rattled the doors and windows, and the three unconsciously moved closer to the charcoal brazier.
Just as Yang Wan reached out her hand, she heard the sound of palace gates opening.
Beauty Chen wondered aloud, “Weren’t the gates closed? How are they opening without announcement…”
Yang Wan stood up, “This slave will go look.”
Yang Wan left the side hall, crossed the courtyard, and saw Li Bi from the Directorate of Ceremonial at the gate.
Seeing Yang Wan emerge, he stopped talking to the gate servants and walked straight to her, “Quickly invite the Prince to come out, to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.”
Yang Wan stopped in her tracks, “Has His Majesty taken a turn for the worse?”
Li Bi said, “He can no longer speak. It will likely be today. The matter must be settled – the Empress has already taken the Second Prince over.”
Just then, Song Yunqing and Beauty Chen followed out. Beauty Chen, forgetting propriety, grabbed Li Bi’s sleeve, “When did His Majesty worsen? Didn’t they say just days ago his spirits had improved somewhat?”
“Your Grace, this is the imperial physicians’ judgment. How would this slave dare speak falsely? Please change quickly and come too.”
Hearing these words, Beauty Chen suddenly swayed backward, collapsing weakly to the ground.
Song Yunqing quickly crouched to support her, looking up at Yang Wan, “Don’t worry about this, hurry to call the Prince to change clothes. I’ll have someone attend to Beauty Chen.”
Yang Wan turned and hurried to the study.
Yi Lang had already been awakened by the voices outside and was walking toward the door barefoot.
Yang Wan quickly crouched down to wrap him properly, telling Heyu, “Bring His Highness’s clothes, shoes, and hat.”
Yi Lang looked at Yang Wan, “Where is Aunt taking me?”
Yang Wan took a breath, trying to keep her voice steady, and looked at Yi Lang seriously, “To the Hall of Mental Cultivation.”
Yi Lang first froze, and then his eyes reddened.
“Your Highness, listen to this slave…”
“I know.”
Yi Lang interrupted Yang Wan, raising his hand to wipe his eyes, “I won’t cry now, it’s not yet time for me to cry.”
“Yes…”
Yang Wan held Yi Lang’s cold hand, “Your Highness understands.”
“Aunt…”
Yi Lang’s voice trembled slightly, “After Father Emperor passes, what will happen to me?”
Though he was trying his utmost to control his emotions, he couldn’t help but grind his teeth, his face pale.
Yang Wan quickly embraced him.
“Nothing will happen. Your Highness will live well.”
“Aunt… I wished Father Emperor could reign longer, let me grow up more.”
As he spoke, he still cried, his tears soaking Yang Wan’s shoulder.
“Aunt knows, Your Highness shouldn’t cry.”
Yi Lang hugged Yang Wan’s neck, sobbing, “If I were a bit older, I could protect Aunt and Mother Consort, and Uncle and the Eastern Depot Chief too.”
Hearing these words, Yang Wan’s nose also began to sting.
The child in her arms, though unable to clearly articulate his current situation and the circumstances between the Cabinet and Directorate of Ceremonial, truly understood everything.
If his political sensitivity came from Zhang Cong, Huang Ran, and others from those years,
Then his care for human relationships was taught by Yang Wan.
When these two aspects merged in him, his maturity became heartbreaking.
“Aunt, don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying.”
“Don’t cry.”
He raised his sleeve to wipe Yang Wan’s tears.
“Aunt, I’m not crying anymore, see? I’m not afraid…”
Looking at Yi Lang desperately holding back his tears, Yang Wan suddenly realized that no matter how times change, human fears and vulnerabilities are always connected – the punishments that terrified Deng Ying, the palace struggles that frightened Yi Lang, and the historical truths that scared her… each falling blow could shatter one’s soul. Yet human endurance effortlessly wrapped up all the fragments, continuing forward with apparent fearlessness.