Yi Lang held Yang Wan's hand all the way.
Yang Lun walked beside Yang Wan, and seeing that she was staring at Yi Lang's back without saying anything, he gently reminded her, "Don't be like this after you go in. The queen will be worried if she sees you."
Yang Wan suddenly stopped and Yi Lang almost tripped. Yang Jing and several other eunuchs who were following Yang Lun hurried forward to support him.
Seeing her pursed lips and red eyes, Yang Lun couldn't help but whispered, "What are you doing? You should be thankful for not making things difficult for him!"
"You are polite, but you are not allowed to be sentimental."
Yang Lun was startled, "What are you talking about?"
Yang Wan raised her head and said nothing.
Yang Lun found that she seemed to be crying very hard. Although she was still trying her best to hold it back, her shoulders and arms had begun to tremble.
He suddenly felt distressed, but didn't know how to comfort her.
Fortunately, Yi Lang saw her like this and walked back to pull her sleeve.
"Auntie... Yi Lang has stopped punishing him."
Yang Wan looked down at Yi Lang.
He was still young, but he already had the outline of a teenager, clean and exquisite brocade clothes, and the temperament of a royal noble. He might not be able to hurt Deng Ying, but he could hurt Yang Wan in front of Deng Ying. She knew that she had lost her composure, but she still kept her lips tight and said nothing.
Yi Lang looked at Yang Lun and Yang Jing, then lowered his head in silence for a while. Suddenly he raised his head and said in a low voice: "Aunt, I'm sorry..."
Yang Lun and Yang Jing didn't hear a word clearly, they only saw Yi Lang frowning after he finished speaking, loosening Yang Wan's clothes, and walking forward alone. Yang Jing and the eunuchs hurriedly followed him.
Yang Lun walked behind Yang Wan and said, "Your Highness has been in the palace for so many years. This is the first time that you and Yang Jing are reunited in the palace. Do you want to make your whole family unhappy just for Deng Ying?"
Yang Wan exhaled, raised her hand and rubbed her eyes vigorously, "I'm sorry, it's my fault."
After that, she took a few steps forward, squatted down and said, "Yi Lang, come, auntie will carry you back."
Yang Wan was very lucky because Yi Lang was still young and didn't know much. He was held in the arms of his closest relatives and gradually forgot about the matter of the general.
The four of them walked into Chengqian Palace. Zheng Yuejia led Yang Lun and Yang Jing to kowtow to Concubine Ning in the main room. Yang Wan put Yi Lang down and went to the inner room to wash her face while they were doing the kowtow outside. He Yu brought her makeup in and placed it next to Yang Wan, saying softly, "When you came in, the queen saw that you looked unwell, so she asked the maid to come in and see what happened to you?"
Yang Wan turned her back to cover up: "Go back to the queen, it's okay, I'll be out soon."
After that, he looked in the mirror, patted his face, and tried to make his expression look more natural.
In fact, after calming down, Yang Wan realized that Yang Lun was right. This was a rare gathering between sisters, and she really shouldn't make Concubine Ning worry because of her emotions.
She smiled, quickly tidied herself up, and walked into the main room.
Concubine Ning was sitting on a chair, holding Yang Jing's hand and talking.
"In the blink of an eye, you have grown so tall."
Yang Jing said: "I haven't seen my elder sister for many years. Ziyi misses her very much."
Seeing that he was well-mannered and no different from Yang Lun, Concubine Ning couldn't help but shake her head and smiled at Yang Lun: "You have disciplined him a lot."
Yang Lun cupped his hands and replied, "Yes, he is not a child anymore. He must be upright and decent when he enters the palace to be a companion to His Highness, and he cannot make any mistakes."
Concubine Ning nodded, but did not say anything else. She turned to ask Yang Lun's wife, "I asked Wan to visit my sister-in-law before, but she was not very well. Is she feeling better now?"
"Your Majesty, Jiao Qiu is feeling better now, but after dealing with some family matters, she is not feeling well again. She will need to rely on an outside doctor for a while. I would like to thank you for your concern on her behalf."
Concubine Ning sighed, "Your life in the outer palace should be more complicated than the things at home, but you don't have to worry about me all the time. Like Ziyi, it's good to study quietly in the outer palace. Suddenly, I entered the Wenhua Palace and followed Zhang Ci Fu... There were so many eyes watching me, and I was worried."
Yang Lun said: "As your subjects, how can we escape to a quiet place?"
"good."
Concubine Ning let go of Yang Jing's hand somewhat angrily, and nodded with a smile: "Brother has always been more understanding."
After hearing this, Yang Lun stepped back and bowed: "I dare not."
Concubine Ning raised her hand to signal him to stand up. "Okay, no more nonsense. It's rare that you can come in and sit with me for a while. Qia Wan'er is here too, so don't be polite. Just sit down. I... made some cakes myself, and I'll make them into Heyubao later. You can take them out and let the people at home taste them."
Although everyone observed the boundaries of etiquette and tried their best to smile, the family dinner was still a bit awkward.
After the meal, Yang Wan personally saw Yang Lun and the other person out. When they reached Cheng Qian's room, Yang Lun looked back and seemed to want to say something but stopped himself.
Seeing his embarrassment, Yang Wan forced a smile at him and said, "It's okay, brother."
Yang Lun asked Yang Jing to take a step forward, then turned around and looked into Yang Wan's eyes: "Brother didn't expect you to be so sad."
Yang Wan looked aside and said, "No."
He paused for a moment, then nodded: "It's what I deserve."
Yang Lun sighed: "Next spring, maybe my brother will take over..."
"don't want."
She interrupted Yang Lun directly.
Yang Lun was interrupted by her, so he didn't continue talking, and changed the subject: "Then, if you have any grievances in the future, let Deng Ying go and tell your brother."
After finishing, I laughed at myself with disappointment.
"When you were little, I couldn't do anything if you cried in front of me. Now you have changed a lot, but when you cry, I still can't do anything."
He glanced at the imperial palace and said, "Take care of yourself and serve the queen well."
Yang Wan knelt down and saluted behind him.
She waited until the two of them walked away before turning back to the side hall. She originally wanted to go back without saying a word to He Yu, but when she arrived at the side hall, she saw Concubine Ning sitting under the lamp, quietly waiting for her.
"Sit with your sister for a while."
Yang Wan glanced outside, and before she could say anything, Concubine Ning had already taken her hand and said, "Just settle Yi Lang down."
Yang Wan nodded and sat down next to Concubine Ning.
Concubine Ning smoothed her hair that was messed up by the wind. "That child is a talented person. He made you angry today. But he is still very quiet. He didn't say a word during the meal. He is much better behaved than usual."
Yang Wan shook her head, "It's my fault."
Concubine Ning personally poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Yang Wan, "Wan'er, I think it's my blessing that you can enter the palace. I only have Yi Langyi as my child. He is willing to be close to you and listen to you, so..."
She paused for a moment, her voice a little hoarse, "I don't know how long I can stay with Yi Lang, but I feel more at ease with you around."
Yang Wan was a little dazed at first, but the chill in those words seemed to carry the same foresight as hers, causing her to feel a chill all over her body.
"Why did your Majesty suddenly say such a thing?"
Concubine Ning held the teacup and said, "Don't worry about it. I just haven't been feeling well for the past few days. I've had a lot of pain. But people have to die eventually. When life is not so good, it's a relief to die early."
For some reason, even though these words were spoken by Concubine Ning, Yang Wan thought of Deng Ying.
All of a sudden, she couldn't help it anymore. A pain rushed into her eyes, ears, nose and mouth, and her tears flowed without restraint.
Concubine Ning hurriedly held her in her arms.
"Sister knows that you have been holding back in front of us today, and you feel uncomfortable even when you laugh."
Yang Wan sobbed so hard that even her voice was intermittent.
"My Lady, if a person...knows that his or her fate is not good, can he or she still live well..."
Concubine Ning touched Yang Wan's forehead and said softly, "Of course I can. For example, I have you, Yi Lang, my elder brother, my parents, my relatives, and..."
As for the last person, she didn't say anything, but hugged the person in her arms even tighter.
"Wan'er, as long as you are here, even if I know that I won't have a happy ending in life, I will still accompany you well."
"I'm afraid..."
"What is Wan'er afraid of?"
"I'm afraid Deng Ying doesn't want to see me anymore."
As soon as she finished speaking, she burst into tears.
Concubine Ning patted Yang Wan on the back, "Is it because of Yi Lang?"
Yang Wan didn't answer.
Concubine Ning raised her head. "When you were not here, my brother told me what happened before you came. Wan'er, my brother, even Yi Lang, no one blames you. They all feel sorry for you. Don't be so sad."
Yang Wan leaned in Concubine Ning's arms, "Ning Fei... they treated you the same way they treated Deng Ying. Only in this way... can you be with him... Sister... He is the best person in your heart. You didn't know it before. You thought that just being able to look at him was enough, but now you know it and you're afraid. You're afraid that you're the one who hurts him the most."
Concubine Ning hugged Yang Wan tightly as she trembled in tears, "Sister, I understand, I understand..."
**
The evening deepened.
Concubine Ning hugged Yang Wan and waited until she calmed down before letting the palace servants in to take care of her.
There was a snowy wind outside, and it was freezing cold.
As Concubine Ning was walking towards the main hall, He Yu suddenly called her from the bottom of the stairs, "Madam, this is the jade ornament on your body."
Concubine Ning stopped and looked down at He Yu's hand, and saw that it was the hibiscus jade pendant that Yang Wan was wearing around her waist.
"What time did it fall?"
"I don't know either. It was sent by Deng Bingbi."
Concubine Ning looked towards the palace, "Is he still there?"
He Yu nodded, "Still here, waiting for your reply outside.
"Okay, I'll go ahead."
On the Chengqian Hall, Deng Ying stood with his back to the stairs. Although the door of the hall had not been locked yet, it was already closed. When it was opened suddenly, the wind rushed out and blew up his robe sleeves.
Deng Ying turned around and saw that it was Concubine Ning standing in front of her, so she knelt down and saluted.
Concubine Ning walked down the steps in front of the palace, bent down and supported him, "Deng Bingbi, please stand up."
Deng Ying stood up, still refusing to look up, and took a step back: "I will leave now."
Concubine Ning shook her head and said, "Please stay. I have a few words for you."
Concubine Ning said so, Deng Ying had no choice but to stop and said, "Your Majesty, please leave."
Concubine Ning took a few steps forward, saying, "I hope you don't take what happened outside the palace today to heart."
"Deng Ying doesn't dare."
Concubine Ning smiled when she heard this and said, "I'm just afraid that you will do something like this."
She smiled and raised her head. "Originally, I wanted Wan'er to come and talk to you in person, but... she just cried and finally fell asleep, so I came to see you."
After hearing these words, Deng Ying knelt down again.
"Deng Ying understands that I have repeatedly hurt the young lady's reputation, which is unforgivable. I should redeem myself with my life, and I dare not beg for mercy. But please, Madam, consider that I have not yet repaid you with my kindness and regret, and temporarily pardon Deng Ying's life."
Concubine Ning looked down at him, "Do you mean to redeem your life for Wan'er?"
"yes."
"In that case, I have a question for you. I hope you won't answer too quickly. Okay, okay."
"Yes, please ask, madam."
Concubine Ning held down her hair that was somewhat messy due to the wind and said in a calm voice: "If you knew that you would not have a good end, how would you live?"
Deng Ying raised her head and asked, "Why would your Majesty ask that?"
"You spent ten years building the Imperial City, but the civil officials forced you into the Ministry of Justice to be humiliated. However, the death of Zhang Zhanchun, who was also a builder of the Imperial City, triggered a shock in the summer of the twelfth year. You are a very smart person. You should understand that no matter how well you do, you cannot leave a good reputation. Maybe if you die in the afternoon, no one will remember that you, like Zhang Zhanchun, were once a builder of the Imperial City."
After she finished speaking, she seemed to feel that it was a bit too cruel, and her voice gradually became softer.
"If that were the case, how would you live?"
Deng Ying lowered his eyes, "I just want to have no regrets."
"The same goes for me."
After she finished speaking, she reached out and held Deng Ying's arm.
Deng Ying was startled, "My Lady, no..."
Concubine Ning did not let him fall down, but helped him up.
"Wan'er doesn't want to see you like this."
She stood up straight after saying this, "Wan'er has been in the palace for almost a year, and today is the first time I've seen her cry. Do you know why?"
"Is it because of the servant?"
"yes."
Concubine Ning sighed, "She is a very clear-headed person and has nothing to fear. However, she told you today that she is afraid that you will not see her because of Yi Lang's words. She is really smart and guessed it right. Deng Bingbi, your humility is Wan'er's humility, so I ask you not to stay away from Wan'er. I don't ask about the result, but I ask for a clear conscience."