He nodded.
“Deng Ying.”
“Yes?”
“Just continue doing what you want to do. No matter what others think, I see it all. As long as I’m alive, I’ll make sure you survive. Even if I’m too naive… even if I ultimately can’t achieve it, I’ll still be your posthumous defender.”
As she spoke, her fingers gently caressed Deng Ying’s neck.
This gentle caress caused an aching warmth to spread through his jaw.
He had previously thought that beneath the robes, above the flesh, he would lose every battle.
But at this moment, he sensed that Yang Wan didn’t want him to lose.
For Yang Wan, she could finally touch this man who once lived among papers, no longer with historical scrutiny and pity, but with warm affection.
“Let me carry you back to Chengrong Palace.”
“There’s no need…”
“Are you worried the young prince will blame me?”
Yang Wan didn’t answer.
“Don’t worry, Wan Wan. To be able to care for you, I can endure anything.”
After speaking, he gently lifted Yang Wan’s body, letting her temporarily lean against the chair leg while he stood up and crouched in front of her.
“Come.”
Yang Wan looked at Deng Ying’s back, “Walk slowly later. I was lying to you before – my wounds haven’t healed well, they hurt.”
“Alright, I’ll walk slowly. Come up first.”
Yang Wan coughed once, “Also, I’m not very light. If you…”
“Wan Wan.”
He interrupted her, then gently repeated: “Come up first.”
On this May morning, the palace servants had just swept yesterday’s rain-fallen leaves into piles scattered along the walls.
Yang Wan held onto Deng Ying’s neck, quietly resting on his shoulder.
He had once built this imperial city for the Emperor and knew every palace pathway and every hall intimately, but he understood that none of these bricks and plants belonged to him. Only now, with Yang Wan holding his neck as he walked step by step through the early summer imperial city, did he suddenly feel that those elegant features he had created had a real connection to him.
Deng Ying turned his head to look at Yang Wan’s face resting on his shoulder.
She seemed to have fallen asleep from exhaustion, but due to the pain, she couldn’t sleep peacefully. Yet her expression remained relaxed and gentle.
Deng Ying raised his head to look at the flowering branches on the palace walls and suddenly asked her softly.
“Wan Wan, do you want some flowers?”
Unexpectedly, the person on his back answered hazily, “I want a depot flower.”
Deng Ying didn’t know what a depot flower was.
But seeing her sweet, innocent smile after saying those words, he found himself smiling too.
By now, the servants of Chengrong Palace had received news of Yang Wan’s release and were crowding around Consort Ning at the palace gate. Imperial Physician Peng from the Imperial Pharmacy, along with two female physicians, were also waiting at the Chengrong Gate. Yi Lang tugged at Consort Ning’s sleeve and asked softly, “Imperial Mother, why are the female physicians here too?”
Consort Ning sighed, “Your aunt is injured. These next few days, you must be gentler and not disturb your aunt while she recovers.”
“Who hurt Aunt?”
Consort Ning looked at Yi Lang’s serious expression and silently shook her head.
He Yu said, “Your Grace, perhaps we should let the Record Keeper stay in the Western Side Hall. The east side is more spacious, but we servants are far away and might not be able to care for her properly.”
Consort Ning said, “No need to prepare the Side Hall – there’s no time anyway. When she returns, let her stay in my chambers.”
“Then where will Your Grace stay?”
“We’ll discuss that after I’ve cared for her for a few days. She must be frightened and feeling wronged.”
He Yu quickly said, “Record Keeper is Your Grace’s sister and has been so good to our young prince. How can our hearts not ache to see her suffer like this?”
Consort Ning nodded, “I know you all care. But I’m uneasy – let her stay with me.”
After speaking, she bent down to touch Yi Lang’s face, “When your aunt returns, don’t keep asking her questions. Let her rest well, understand?”
Yi Lang said, “Imperial Mother, was Aunt taken away because of the plot against Second Brother?”
Before Consort Ning could answer, He Yu had already gone down the steps.
“Superintendent Deng, please go slowly, let us help steady her.”
Consort Ning straightened up to look at the Chengrong Gate, seeing Deng Ying half-kneeling, supporting Yang Wan’s waist with his hand behind her, letting He Yu and others help Yang Wan down.
Yang Wan’s clothes were covered in blood stains, shocking to see from waist to thighs.
Consort Ning hurriedly lifted her skirts to go down, not daring to touch Yang Wan carelessly. “How… how did you become injured like this?”
Hearing Consort Ning’s voice, Yang Wan forced her eyes open, “Your Grace…”
“It’s alright, don’t speak if you’re in pain. Sister will take you inside.”
“It’s not painful… just looks frightening.”
As she spoke, she looked at Yi Lang, “You should take the young prince back, so as not to frighten him.”
Yi Lang said, “I’m not afraid.”
Yang Wan smiled palely, “Then you mustn’t cry when you see it later.”
“I won’t cry.”
After saying this, he glanced at Deng Ying, then looked up at Yang Wan again, “I’ll remember everything for Aunt.”
Deng Ying hadn’t stood up, keeping his head lowered as he addressed Yi Lang and Consort Ning: “This servant begs forgiveness from Your Grace and the prince.”
Before Consort Ning could speak, Yi Lang asked, “Did you save my aunt?”
Deng Ying straightened his back, “This servant dares not say so.”
“If you did, then you did. If you didn’t, then you didn’t. Superintendent Deng, just tell me directly.”
Deng Ying looked up at Yang Wan, and Yi Lang’s voice rose, “You don’t need to look at my aunt. She doesn’t want me to give you trouble. I’m not asking to trouble you, I just want to know clearly what you did.”
Deng Ying prostrated himself again, “This servant failed to take good care of the Record Keeper. Please punish this servant, young prince.”
Yi Lang lowered his head, “You don’t need to consider my dignity. Don’t beg forgiveness when you shouldn’t. Please stand up first.”