After the two of them finished their noodles, Deng Ying took a moment to think about the time, then stood up and put on her robe in front of the door.
Yang Wan also stood up and asked, "Are you going back to the factory office now?"
"yes."
Deng Ying lowered her head to tie her side belt, "I want to see Tan Wende again."
"Oh... Is it for Zheng Bingbi and the others?"
"Um."
After he responded like this, Yang Wan didn't say anything else.
Deng Ying tied up his belt, opened the door, turned around and said to Yang Wan, "I will rest for a few hours at the factory office tonight. I have to go to the Imperial Household Department to be on duty early tomorrow morning. You should go back early. It's going to rain at dusk."
"Okay, go ahead. I'll collect the bowls and then go back."
Deng Ying glanced at the table and said, "Leave it there for me to collect tomorrow. Don't get it wet again."
Yang Wan shrugged, "I asked you to take care of the housework, but I didn't say it was now."
She said, waving her hand, "Go ahead."
**
After Deng Ying left, Yang Wan put away the dishes and chopsticks, closed the door, and walked along the moat to Chengqian Palace alone.
As expected, the sky gradually became overcast. The willow branches by the river were swaying, and the wind on the river surface was blowing cold air into people's sleeves. Yang Wan quickened her pace and arrived at Chengqian Palace, but found that the palace gate was closed. The eunuch in front of the door opened the side door for her and followed her inside while saying, "The queen has been summoned to the Yangxin Palace to serve the emperor, and Miss Heyu has also gone to serve. We thought it was going to rain, so we closed the doors and windows early."
Yang Wan stopped and asked, "Are you going to sleep with me today?"
"Oh, what the head of the household department said, there is no difference between today and tomorrow when serving the emperor in bed, it is all a grace."
"Isn't your period not over yet?"
The eunuch said, "The head of the household has been lying on the bed for too long. The queen didn't have her period yesterday. The emperor summoned her today because his servant came to tell her personally. He didn't even let us clean up and took her away directly."
Yang Wan thought of Concubine Ning's words, "Humans are not plants or trees. There are always places they don't want to go."
I couldn't help but pursed my lips.
"Where's the little prince?"
"Your Highness is studying."
Yang Wan nodded and said, "All of you should stay alert so that we can pick up the queen at night."
"Yes, the servants know."
However, that night, Yang Wan waited at Chengqian Gate until the early morning, but Concubine Ning still did not return.
The palace maids in Chengqian Palace were unaware of the situation and were extremely happy.
According to etiquette, concubines of the Ming Dynasty, except the empress, were not allowed to stay in the Yangxin Palace when the emperor slept with him. Only with the emperor's special permission could they stay with him on the dragon bed until dawn.
It rained heavily at night, and the water on the palace road exploded like broken jade.
Yang Wan folded her arms, staring blankly at the dark rain road in front of her.
The eunuchs behind him shrank their necks and whispered, "His Majesty must be concerned about our queen. He can't bear to see her suffer in the rain and cold, so he has given her a companion..."
"Shut up!"
The eunuch who was speaking was frightened by Yang Wan's voice. He dared not speak anymore and shrank into the corner.
Yang Wan raised her head, looked at the lanterns swaying in the rain, and clenched her fists.
**
In the second bedroom of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Zhenning was lying on his back on the couch, while Concubine Ning was lying beside him with her clothes on.
"You don't take off your clothes yourself, do you?"
The candle flame crackled and Concubine Ning's shoulders trembled.
Emperor Zhenning tilted his head, glanced at her back, and suddenly asked:
"I ask you, are you not going to take it off?"
Concubine Ning still didn't say anything, but just reached out and hugged her shoulders tightly.
Emperor Zhenning grabbed her arm and turned her over. "I asked you to sleep with me, but you didn't say a word. When I touched you, you felt like you were pricked by a needle. What do you mean by that..."
"I dare not."
Concubine Ning responded with a hoarse voice.
There was a burst of muffled thunder, and a blue flash outside the window illuminated the room. At that moment, Emperor Zhenning suddenly felt that the beautiful face beside his pillow seemed a little hideous. He suddenly turned over and sat up, moving the lamp beside the couch to in front of Concubine Ning.
"Yang Yu."
He looked at Concubine Ning's face and called out her name in a low voice.
"What have I done to you that you spoil my fun today?"
Concubine Ning opened her eyes, "I didn't do anything. Your Majesty forgot. I was always like this when I slept with you in the past. Your Majesty never let me take off my clothes. When Your Majesty touched me in the past, I was as frightened as I am today. Your Majesty asked me what happened, why not ask Your Majesty yourself, what happened today?"
"Are you saying that I'm too concerned about you?"
"If not, why would Your Majesty humiliate me?"
"I humiliate you?"
The emperor stared at Concubine Ning, "Is it humiliating for me to ask you to sleep with me? Yang Yu, I have tolerated you for ten years. No matter how cold your personality is, I never said anything. You said such words to me today. Do you not want any affection from me anymore?"
"I don't dare to ask for it."
Concubine Ning tilted her neck up and said, "Suspicion can lead to conviction. My sister was like this back then, and I am like this today."
She took the initiative and revealed things that Emperor Zhenning was unwilling to mention.
After hearing this, Emperor Zhenning's chest rose and fell, and he pointed to the edge of the couch with a trembling hand, "You...you...kneel down for me."
Concubine Ning stood up as she was told and bowed deeply to Emperor Zhenning in front of the couch.
That delicate beauty still made people feel pity when they saw it, but because her posture was too resolute, it revealed a murderous and ruthless edge.
Emperor Zhenning was stunned.
"Concubine Ning... I..."
Concubine Ning didn't let him continue.
"Your Majesty, I know what kind of person you are. In this world, human desires are as great as the sky. Even if you are a monarch and father, you are still trapped in the realm of mortals. You treat me like this today, which is already a favor to me. But I have been in the palace for ten years and have never done anything that violates the palace rules. I am pure in body and mind, and would rather die than be humiliated. Slanderous words have hurt the foundation of my relationship with Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty to depose me from the position of concubine and share the same crime with the three hundred palace maids."
Emperor Zhenning slapped the couch and shouted, "Concubine Ning! You said such crazy things to me. Have you ever thought about your son?"
Concubine Ning raised her head and said, "As your Majesty's son, has Yi Lang ever failed your Majesty?"
"… "
Emperor Zhenning's shoulders suddenly slumped.
The candles burned out layers of tears, and the heavy rain kept pushing the window bolts. Concubine Ning folded her hands in front of her knees and continued:
"He has read all the books that the cabinet wants him to read. His Majesty wants him to learn filial piety, and he has learned it. He is not even ten years old, but he is trembling with fear between the emperor and his subjects, walking on thin ice. Someone told me that whether he will inherit the throne or not, he is the future of the country, so I did not tell him a single bit of my resentment. In addition to diet and daily life, I have never taught him anything. He is not a woman's kindness, and he has never been involved in the struggles in the inner court. He is an upright child, and he is worthy of the identity of the eldest son of the Ming Emperor."
"I know!"
The emperor stood up and walked a few steps to Concubine Ning, and said hurriedly: "He is my son, how can I not feel sorry for him."
Concubine Ning shook her head.
"Your Majesty, although he has not mentioned the matter of imprisonment in Wuying Palace in front of me, he has always kept it in his heart and is always worried. Yes... it is normal for him to be worried as a minister, but what about worrying as a son..."
She tilted her head to hold back tears as she spoke, "Your Majesty must force him to have it too."
"Didn't I pardon him in the end? Why are you still bringing this up?"
"You suggested it!"
"What did you say."
"You suggested..."
Concubine Ning straightened her legs and met the emperor's gaze. "You asked me if I had ever thought about your son and I. Your Majesty, I also want to ask you, if I have been at odds with you all my life, how will Yi Lang cope with it?"
Emperor Zhenning grabbed Concubine Ning's arm and said, "Do you know how ruthless you are today? I just asked you to take off a piece of clothing, and you begged me to die. Yes! When the Northern Pacification Division tried your sister, I suspected you, but even if I suspected you, did I question you? Ah? Did I let you be humiliated? For so many years, you have been indifferent to me, and when have I really dealt with you? Today, you want to turn the tables on me. What? I am the emperor, and I can't doubt you? You actually threatened me with my child. I think you are really crazy. It's not easy to die. I will abolish you now and execute you tomorrow."
Concubine Ning broke free from the emperor's grip and leaned forward with a smile, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your help."
"you… "
Emperor Zhenning's self-esteem was completely hurt by her behavior. He knelt down and shouted, "Yang Yu, beg for mercy!"
"I will not beg for mercy, please grant me your majesty."
"Heh..."
Emperor Zhenning said in a sinister voice: "If I order you to be killed, what will Yi Lang think of me? You want me to bear the blame for your innocent death. Do you think I would be so stupid as to agree to your request?"
Concubine Ning pressed her hands to the ground, her fingers trembling, "Then what do you want, Your Majesty?"
Emperor Zhenning raised Concubine Ning's face and said, "I will give you one more chance. Beg for mercy from me and say that you are wrong. Take off your clothes and sleep with me. Then go back to Chengqian Palace and continue to be Concubine Ning. Only you and I will know what happened today."
Concubine Ning's face was distorted by the pinching, but she seemed to smile after hearing these words. For some reason, this weak smile made Emperor Zhenning feel cold.
"Your Majesty... please kill me."
"snort… "
Emperor Zhenning laughed, and turned Concubine Ning's face to the side. He stood up and asked, "Who's outside?"
Hu Xiang hurriedly responded outside the door: "The servant is here."
"Decree that Concubine Ning is insane and must be sent to the Banana Garden to recuperate immediately. No one is allowed to disturb her without the order."
Hu Xiang replied "Yes." Then he hesitated and said, "Master... are we sending him away now?"
"Send him away immediately!"
After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and looked at Concubine Ning who was kneeling on the ground, "Anything else to say?"
Concubine Ning straightened her back by supporting herself on the ground.
"One sentence."
"explain."
"To the state, I am just an ignorant woman, but my son is a wise child. If Your Majesty really loves him, please don't let him be ruined by a foolish woman."
**
The rain gradually subsided.
Most of the palace maids waiting in front of the Chengqian Palace gate could no longer hold on. The palace maids in the side hall had also stood up, bringing water and lighting lamps, ready to serve Yi Lang so that he could get up and go to study.
The eunuch behind Yang Wan said, "Why don't we go wait inside? It's already this late, and I'm afraid our queen won't be back until the morning."
"Go back if you can't wait."
As soon as she said this, the palace maids rubbed their eyes and pinched their hips and stood still.
Finally, footsteps were heard on the gradually brightening palace road. He Yu came running in the rain and knelt down when he saw Yang Wan.
"The head of the household... the queen... the queen has been taken to the banana plantation."
"What… "
"The Imperial Household Department said that our queen is insane and has offended His Majesty. She cannot even return to Chengqian Palace and must be sent to Jiaoyuan overnight."
After she said this, the palace servants in Chengqian Palace immediately panicked.
He Yu grabbed Yang Wan's arm and cried, "Master, how could our queen suddenly become insane?"
Yang Wan stood on the steps in a daze, unable to say anything for a moment.
"I want to see my mother."
Suddenly, Yi Lang's voice came from behind, and then a figure passed by Yang Wan. Yang Wan tried to grab him, but missed. The palace maids hurriedly chased after him with umbrellas.
"Yi Lang, come back!"
Yi Lang turned around with tears on his face, "Aunt, I don't believe that mother is crazy."
Yang Wan stood on the steps and said in a trembling voice: "What if His Majesty wants His Highness to believe it?"
Yi Lang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand and wiped away his tears desperately.
After that, he didn't ask any more questions. He couldn't wipe away his tears, so he slowly squatted down with his knees hugged and buried his head between his knees.
The boy's sensitivity was like a knife, piercing Yang Wan's heart. Yang Wan hurried down the stone steps and hugged Yi Lang into her arms.
"Don't be afraid, Your Highness. Your aunt is here. Your aunt is here."