After the Waking of Insects, the Needlework Bureau and the Hat and Scarf Bureau began to cut summer clothes for the inner court, and affairs in all places suddenly became busy.
At this time, a palace maid named Jiang beside the emperor became pregnant and was planned to be canonized as a concubine.
Although Jiang Shangyi and Liang Shanggong were both indifferent to this concubine who had not been selected from the public, because the emperor's only heir was Prince of Han Zhu Yilang, the mother's status was enhanced by her son, so the people of the Silijian went to apply water to the Yanxi Palace, and the six bureaus could not be neglected. When the order of enthronement came out, the entire Shangyi Bureau was thrown into chaos by this unexpected enthronement ceremony. Although Yang Wan was only a clerk in the Shangyi Bureau, she was entangled by the people of the Gujin Tongjiku (1) of Huijimen, and could not get away for several days.
In addition, in Chengqian Palace, Concubine Ning caught a cold and after some time her condition became seriously ill.
Yang Wan was busy traveling between Chengqian Palace and Shangyi Bureau every day. Occasionally she would squeeze out time to look for Deng Ying, but she would never meet him.
From April of the twelfth year of Zhenning until the Tongjia Massacre in the autumn of the twelfth year, there is almost no historical data about Deng Ying.
For historical research, the absence of records either represents a peaceful life or a secret.
Yang Wan wasn't sure whether Deng Ying belonged to the former or the latter, so she always felt a little uneasy.
However, Concubine Ning was so ill that Yi Lang was terrified and always had to look for Yang Wan at night. Yang Wan felt that it was not appropriate for her to abandon them at this time.
That evening, Concubine Ning coughed badly again. After drinking the medicine prepared by He Yu, she tossed and turned on the couch for a long time before finally falling asleep.
Yang Wan coaxed Yi Lang to sleep, and stood in front of the brocade screen waiting for He Yu. When she saw her come out, she winked at her.
He Yu understood and leaned close to Yang Wan's ear and whispered, "I think this symptom seems to be caused by Concubine Jiang's incident."
Yang Wan asked softly, "Does your Majesty care about this?"
He Yu shook her head. "Her Majesty doesn't care much about these things, but she has always been a person who values decency and respect. She slept with me a few days ago..."
She glanced towards the side room again as she spoke, "I only told you that you are the Majesty's sister, so just listen to me and don't ask any more questions."
Yang Wan nodded.
"Yeah, I understand."
He Yu took Yang Wan a few steps into the main room and said in a low voice, "When the queen came back from the night court a few days ago, I felt that the queen was very unhappy, but these things are private, and I can't ask, I can only guess. I think... the queen might have been criticized by His Majesty."
What could it be? Of course it was something that happened when he was showing off too much in bed.
Yang Wan didn't want to know at all.
She had long heard Song Qingyun and other maids privately talk about Jiang's daily behavior in the Shangyi Bureau, and Yang Xiu would definitely not want to be compared with her.
"Maid."
"Um?"
"Are you going back to the Fifth Institute tonight?"
Yang Wan rolled up her sleeves and said, "I won't go back. I'm keeping watch for the queen today. You haven't had a good rest for several nights in a row. Go to bed early while I'm here."
"Why."
He Yu sighed, "You didn't say you were tired, so how could we dare to say we were tired? However, you were there to comfort the Empress, which was much better than the mouths of servants like me. I'll go get you a blanket, it's still cold at night."
"good."
After Yang Wan finished speaking, she walked around Jinping and went into the side room.
Warm smoke flows from the gilded animal-head incense burner.
The bed curtains were hanging in front of him. Opposite the bed was a red sandalwood incense burner, on which was placed a white porcelain bottle with pine branches in it. Although these were simple things, they did not make people feel cold.
Concubine Ning seemed to be soundly asleep, only coughing once or twice occasionally.
Yang Wan sat on the armchair next to the incense table, moved the lamp to illuminate her knees, and opened her notes.
Her notes stopped at the day she and Deng Ying parted in the inner study.
There is no follow-up to the Liulichang case yet.
Yang Wan painted a small portrait of Deng Ying between the two terms "Silijian" and "Neicae". After finishing, she felt that her painting was ugly. Just as she was about to dip the brush in ink to paint it, she heard Concubine Ning suddenly coughing violently.
She quickly put down the things in her hands, stood up and walked to the couch, raised her hand to hang up the bed curtain, bent down and asked her: "Madam, do you want tea?"
Concubine Ning sat up and waved her hand.
"I saw you sitting under the lamp thinking about something, so I wanted to ask you to put on some clothes."
Yang Wan grabbed the jacket hanging on the wooden board and put it on, then moved the lamp closer and sat down beside the couch.
"Isn't that good? Madam, don't get cold."
Concubine Ning looked at her putting on her own clothes and couldn't help shaking her head and laughing, "What kind of rules are you following? You're still a palace maid from the Shangyi Bureau."
Then he added, "But... it's true. You make me feel a little bit at home."
Yang Wan tucked the blanket in for her.
"If you were at home, your Majesty would have told this servant if she had anything to say."
Concubine Ning was stunned.
"You... figured it out?"
"It was He Yu who saw it. I am so stupid, how could I know it?"
Concubine Ning touched Yang Wan's forehead and said, "Sister, it's okay. You are busy with the affairs of the Shangyi Bureau, don't think too much."
"Why would I bother with her?"
"What you said..."
Yang Wan raised her head and interrupted her, saying, "Even though Your Majesty will say that I am ignorant when she hears me say this, I know that Your Majesty will
Only then I am happy. "
Concubine Ning was stunned for a moment, her fingers slowly slid down her cheek, spread it on her knees, lowered her head and smiled, "You are really a perceptive person."
After saying that, he changed the subject and held Yang Wan's hand, "What were you thinking about just now? You were so lost in thought."
"I… "
Yang Wan glanced at the notes she had hastily left on the armchair.
Concubine Ning followed her gaze and couldn't help asking, "I've seen you taking notes in this book more than once. What are you writing on?"
Yang Wan pursed her lips and said nothing.
Concubine Ning waited for her for a while, and seeing that she had no intention of answering, she said softly, "Look, you don't even tell your sister when you have something on your mind."
Yang Wan pinched her fingers, "My Queen, this shouldn't be done at this time, but..."
"Is it related to Supervisor Deng?"
Yang Wan did not deny it. "Well, it's time for the Queen to criticize me again."
"no."
Concubine Ning patted the back of her hand, "What you just said is very interesting. Everyone can make sense, and it's all for the good of the other person. However, life is short, and you should really listen to what you like to hear and do what you like to do. I am a concubine in the harem, I am not as free as you, and my words are also rigid. You just need to know how I feel about you, and do whatever you want. As long as I am here, I will protect you. If one day I am gone, there is still Yi Lang, Wan'er, don't be afraid."
After hearing this, Yang Wan was actually horrified when she thought about it carefully.
Although there seems to be a huge gap between the concepts of ancient and modern times, such as the evolution of women from silence to voice, and the evolution of democratic consciousness from deep sleep to awakening, which has undergone thousands of years of evolution, people in the past would never be able to speak to people today, so can people really imagine the piercing feeling of having their three views pierced after two people from different eras communicate directly
After all, history has temporal walls, but human nature can be communicated through cracks.
Yang Wan felt that, apart from blood ties, this woman who lived in the Ming Dynasty actually gave her something that is called "female friendship" in modern times.
It's just... magical
"Well... speaking of Deng Ying, there is something I want to tell you."
Concubine Ning's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Your Highness, please speak."
"Deng Ying has not been in the palace these days."
"Not in the palace?"
"right."
Yang Wan hurriedly asked, "How did sister know?"
Concubine Ning's eyes darkened. "In the Yangxin Palace, I overheard Eunuch He from the Imperial Household Department telling His Majesty that the Ministry of Justice had taken Deng Ying away, but I cannot ask why."
Yang Wan lowered her head, "I..."
"You want to ask your brother?"
Yang Wan was startled, then smiled and said, "I'm afraid my brother won't see me."
Concubine Ning shook her head and said with a smile: "It's okay. Sister will help you."
**
The cabinet meeting was held the next day.
Yang Wan held Yi Lang's hand and walked on the palace road.
As they walked, he lowered his head and asked Yi Lang, "What did the Queen tell His Highness before she asked him to come with me?"
Yi Lang raised his head, "My mother told me that if my uncle refused to talk to my aunt properly, she would let me stop him and not let him leave."
"ha?"
Yang Wan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Yi Lang saw her smile and shook her arm as he walked, "Aunt, you look best when you smile."
Yang Wan squatted down and picked him up, "Your Highness, you are so young, but you know how to make the servants happy."
Yi Lang put his arms around Yang Wan's neck.
"No, my aunt and mother are the most beautiful people in the palace."
"Ha, you want to see me turn into a villain in a while."
Just as he finished speaking, there was a sound of footsteps coming from the gate.
Yang Wan held Yi Lang and looked towards the door.
The young officials from the six departments came out from the meeting room one after another. Yang Lun was also among them, arguing with them with red ears. After seeing Yang Wan and Yi Lang, he hurriedly said goodbye and walked towards them quickly.
Yang Wan put Yi Lang down and saluted to Yang Lun.
"Lord Yang."
Yang Lun did not respond to Yang Wan. He lifted his robe and knelt down to salute Yi Lang, "I pay my respects to Your Highness."
"Master Yang, please stand up."
Yang Wan looked at the scene in front of her and found it interesting.
Although it is difficult to restrain a child's nature, it is obvious that he still has his own ideas about the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects.
Yang Lun stood up and was about to speak when he heard Yi Lang say, "Aunt has something to ask Lord Yang."
Yang Lun's neck stiffened and he looked at Yang Wan in surprise.
"You are too presumptuous. You even dare to do that to His Highness..."
"Master Yang!"
Yang Lun almost bit his tongue with his teeth, so he had to stop and bow.
"I am here."
"Don't be mean to your aunt."
Yang Wan couldn't help but burst out laughing, and Yang Lun's face suddenly lit up.
Yi Lang didn't understand what Yang Wan was laughing at, he just kept protecting her and said to Yang Lun with a stern face:
"Your Excellency, get up."
"yes… "
Yang Lun stood up straight and glanced at Yang Wan.
Yang Wan took a small step back and said, "Don't look at me like that. I am just a servant, how dare I say anything to His Highness."
Yang Lun's face turned red and white, he straightened his crown, and said in a serious tone: "Ask. I can't talk to you privately for too long."
"Okay. I asked directly, is Deng Ying in the Ministry of Justice?"
"you!"
Yang Lun was about to curse when he saw Yi Lang looking at him angrily. He had no choice but to swallow and said in a low voice, "I think you are crazy. I can't control you if you want to get close to this person. But you are in the inner court now, and it is not your business to ask about the affairs of the court."
"Brother, what you said is very wrong."
Yang Wan responded bluntly, "Deng Ying is also a member of the inner court. Didn't you say that if you implicate him, then you implicate him? The inner court is your majesty's inner court, and the imperial court is also your majesty's imperial court. The accounts are all messed up. Can they really be separated?"
"Yang Wan!"
"Brother, please don't scold me. I am not a brainless person. I only said this in front of you. I dare not even open my mouth to talk to others. I just want to tell you that if you want to arrest Deng Ying for questioning because of the Liulichang case, it is useless. You can't get anything out of him, and you can only torture him in vain."
She narrowed her eyes slightly and looked into Yang Lun's eyes. "I have always wanted to ask you something. You watched them torture Deng Ying. Didn't it hurt you?"
"… "
Yang Lun was speechless.
Yang Wan let go of Yi Lang's hand and took a few steps towards Yang Lun. "I said this not because you guys think I'm crazy about being with Deng Ying. I also understand that you're doing this for the good of the court and the people. Yes, the corruption of eunuchs must be eradicated, but you also have to see who is in power and whether he has the determination now. There have been so many people who have been the first to firecrackers throughout the dynasties, so you should protect yourself. Our Yang family is dying out, my younger brother is still in school, and I'm the only one in the court... You should have heard that His Majesty has appointed a new concubine, and the queen is not in good health these days... You are our only support outside the palace, you must take care of yourself, only then can we be safe."