"Boss, the water has been brought here, where should we pour it?"
The guys stood in the corridor and called Yang Wan, who then let go of Deng Ying and said, "Just carry it in and pour it into the bucket. You guys can also eat from the pot. There's a lot of rabbit meat cooked today."
The waiter said, "Miss Yun went upstairs to look for bath beans. We are waiting to bring them back to the boss."
Yang Wan said, "You and her don't need to look for it. There's some left in the room. It should be enough."
“Yeah.”
The guys filled their cups with hot water and followed him out.
Yang Wan led Deng Ying into the room. A rattan screen was set up in front of the wooden bed. The water temperature was just right, emitting soft white smoke. Yang Wan turned around and said, "The bath beans are in that box. There aren't many left. You can use what you have. I'll go find some clothes for you."
After that, he walked behind the screen.
Deng Ying looked at Yang Wan's bed. The mattress was thick and soft, and it was covered with a silk quilt that seemed to have just been starched and had a faint scent of soapberry. There were two books on the bedside, one of which was open, with notes written by the author before.
There was a couch beside the bed, on which was placed a vase with a branch of apricot blossoms about to bloom. Apart from that, there was no extra decoration. Deng Ying took off his shirt, but refused to sit on Yang Wan's bed. He leaned against the wall, lowered his head to untie the sweat towel around his waist, and took off his pants.
Yang Wan's figure was reflected on the screen. The person inside the screen was covered in thin clothes and had nothing on.
A chill suddenly rose up and gently penetrated into the trouser legs of Deng Ying's underwear. After a slight tremor, a sense of shame arose in her heart. But her heart was calm.
After all, this is Yang Wan's room. As long as she is here, even if she is naked, she doesn't have to feel embarrassed.
"Deng Ying."
"exist."
"Um... did you take off your clothes?"
"Um."
"Then come over and get it."
While looking at it, he stretched out a hand from the side of the screen, holding a new undershirt in his hand.
"Your old clothes were sealed in the moat, so you couldn't take them out when you left. This set is new, but it's not very soft. I washed it several times, but it's still not very comfortable."
Deng Ying reached out to take the shirt, but her hand was grabbing the side of the screen.
"You can wash slowly and soak for a while."
"Wan Wan."
Deng Ying looked at the hand on the screen and said, "If you wash it like this... I'm afraid it will dirty your bed."
"Then you will sleep in the place you have soiled tonight and wash it tomorrow."
"Come and wash..."
"It's okay, Deng Ying."
The hand loosened its grip on the screen, but the voice did not fade away. "Now that it's dirty, come and wash it. When you're better, I'll watch you wash it."
After she finished speaking, she tapped the screen lightly, turned her back and said:
"Hurry up and take a shower. You'll sit right here. When you're done, let's go out and eat hotpot."
**
The hot pot of rabbit meat drives away the chill of the early spring evening.
The afterglow of the setting sun fell on the courtyard, and the wind gently stirred the vines on the wall. The smell of fireworks was mixed with the aroma of paper and ink.
Chen Hua stared at the fire in the stove carefully, picking up long firewood from time to time. Song Yun patted Chen Hua's shoulder and said, "Stand opposite and pick it up. Don't block the seat of the governor."
After that, he said to Deng Ying, "Master, you sit over here, where you won't be blown by the wind or smoke. Leave that side for us to sit on."
Deng Ying stood and smiled.
"No, it doesn't matter where you sit."
Chen Hua hurriedly said, "Come and sit down. Your legs are not in good condition, so Miss Wan specially lit a stove for you here."
Yang Wan came out of the kitchen carrying vegetables. "Sister is here. I dare not go to the honored seat. You can let me sit wherever I like. It's not like the stove cannot be moved."
After she finished speaking, she pointed to the seat in front of her and said, "Come, sit down."
Deng Ying sat down obediently. Song Yunqing couldn't help laughing and said, "When I was in the palace before, the people from the Shangyi Bureau were here. Although the governor was a very good person, he was not that easy to talk to. I thought so too. But Yang Wan, the governor followed you and really didn't say a word."
Yang Wan helped Song Yun to place the dishes and chopsticks gently, and said with a smile: "If you want to be obedient, you can't compare to Chen Zhangyin."
Deng Ying and Chen Hua looked at each other, and then both looked away.
Chen Hua said: "I am stupid and haven't read much. Yun Qingxi's words always make sense, and I just listened to them without understanding."
"Yes."
Deng Ying added.
Chen Hua hurriedly said: "You don't have to be so stupid. You haven't studied at all. You are a lecturer in the inner school, which is no worse than the Hanlin Academy. You listen to Miss Wan because she is a good person and you like her in your heart..."
"Chen Hua."
Song Yunqing snatched the chopsticks from him, "You know what the Human Overlord thinks. If you know, you will become the Overlord too."
Chen Hua quickly shrank back onto the stool, "I can't do it, I can't do it, I can't do it anymore..."
Yang Wan smiled and sat down next to Deng Ying, only to find that her ears had turned red without her noticing.
She couldn't help laughing and said, "You just can't bear it."
Deng Ying hurriedly said to Song Yunqing: "It's okay, just let Chen Zhangyin take over."
Chen Hua waved his hands quickly, "I don't dare."
Yang Yu clasped her hands together and smiled, "I haven't felt this comfortable in many years."
Yang Wan poured her a bowl of tea and said softly, "I brought the pot to the side so that you can see the moon."
Yang Yu patted the back of Yang Wan's hand and said, "You even thought of this."
"Um."
Yang Wan looked toward the green wall.
"Although the moon here is not as beautiful as the one in the Banana Garden and Plum Forest, this green wall has been around for a long time. When the moon climbs up, it reflects the moonlight and looks green and elegant, which is also very charming."
"Yeah, quiet is good."
Song Yunqing said: "We are now at peace, but you are the supervisor, so you can't be at peace."
After hearing this, Chen Hua looked at the boiling soup and sighed, "That's right... The inner court is now... ah..."
He sighed, picked up a piece of rabbit meat and put it into the water. The pink meat turned white instantly and floated up and down in the pot.
Song Yunqing said: "What's wrong?"
Chen Hua shook his head.
Song Yunqing chased after him, "How can you make people feel at ease if you don't finish what you are saying?"
Chen Hua picked up the boiled rabbit meat and put it in the bowl, but did not eat it immediately. He put down his chopsticks and said, "The cabinet officials are clearing out the Silijian clique. Many old cases have been turned up, and many people have been arrested this month."
After that, he looked at Deng Ying and said, "Master, I heard that you are going to be in charge of the Imperial Household Department. Taking over the Imperial Household Department at this critical juncture is like holding a taro just dug out of a fire. It is so difficult."
Song Yunqing said: "You only saw what happened in the palace. If you want to know more..."
She held Yang Wan's hand while talking, "What's worrying is actually on the head."
Chen Hua asked, "What's wrong with your head?"
Song Yun lowered his head and said nothing.
Chen Hua was puzzled and said, "I only know that the situation is quite tragic now. The relatives of Mr. Zhang's only son, who was studying at Tongjia Academy, went to Beijing. A book club in Shuntian Prefecture wrote a lot of mourning articles. The last words that Mr. Zhou of Tongjia Academy said on the execution ground, what hope... what flesh and blood..."
Yang Wan continued: "I hope my flesh and blood will fall to the ground to pave a good path for those who come after me. I hope my bones will become trees to support and protect those who come after me."
"Yes, just these two sentences."
Chen Hua pursed his lips. "These two sentences were written into a calligraphy piece by Li Qinglin of the Donglin School, and many people copied them. Alas... Although this case has been closed for many years, I heard that it was really tragic at the time. There is also Mr. Zhang's case, which is also an unjust case. It was all because of our ancestors... Bah! It was because He Yixian wanted to conceal the corruption case in Liulichang that Mr. Zhang was forced to death."
"Alright, alright."
Song Yunqing interrupted and said, "Don't talk too much. The governor hasn't eaten anything yet. From what you've been saying, it's not a happy thing. Come, governor, eat the rabbit meat."
"Okay, thank you."
Deng Ying took the rabbit meat from Song Yunqing with a smile, lowered her head and took a bite.
Chen Hua didn't dare to speak, and the atmosphere at the table became a little depressing for a moment.
Yang Wan scooped a bowl of hot soup and handed it to Deng Ying. She looked up and said to Song Yunqing, "I've noticed that since you took charge of the inner quarters, you've become more and more like Jiang Shangyi."
Song Yun sighed softly: "I'm sorry Yang Wan, we were having a good meal, but you guys ruined our mood."
Yang Wan shook her head and said, "It's okay. I'll eat whatever I want."
As soon as she finished, Deng Ying picked up the soup bowl, took a sip, and then ate all the rabbit meat in the bowl.
Song Yunqing finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Let Chen Hua wash the dishes."
"No, you have a lot of things to do in the workshop. You go and do your work. I'll help you sort out the wool and I'll wash the dishes."
"Wanwan, go take a shower."
Yang Wan smiled and said, "What's wrong with you today? You keep grabbing work."
Deng Ying put down the bowl and said, "It's here with you..."
"You should avoid touching cold water with your hands now. If you really want to work, then you can stand by and talk to me while I wash the dishes."
Yang Yu said: "Although it is already spring, it always feels like the New Year, with everyone having a great time eating and working."
Yang Wan poured the vegetables into the pot and said, "Next year during the Chinese New Year, maybe it will be more lively. I will invite my brother and sister-in-law to come and make dumplings."
Yang Yu nodded.
Some people want to be trees, or to be the road under others' feet. Some people just want to be a bridge, not for salvation, but just to be hope. However, as she said, everyone in the room has their own pain, but she is the most desperate one among them.
Yang Yu looked at Yang Wan in front of her and blurted out, "Mr. Wan always makes everyone live happily."
Chen Hua also said: "Yes, Miss Wan, I was afraid that Yun Qing would be heartbroken, but I didn't expect..."
"yes."
Song Yunqing said: "I was very sad before, but fortunately I have this place, otherwise I don't know if I can survive."
Yang Wan picked up some boiled dishes for Deng Ying and said with a smile, "How is it?"
She looked at Deng Ying with a smile, "You have been trying your best to kill yourself. If you didn't know how to be happy, you would have been pissed to death a long time ago."
"Wan Wan..."
"Don't say anything."
She pointed at Deng Ying's bowl and said, "Eat vegetables and take vitamins to prevent hair loss."
Deng Ying really didn't say anything else and just focused on eating.