Deng Ying stood up and walked behind Yang Wan, following her gaze behind the screen, and said, "I know the man who wrote the Biographies of Five Sages.
Yang Wan turned around and asked, "Who is it?"
Deng Ying looked down at her and said, "You also know him, your brother Yang Jing."
"What?"
When Yang Wan heard the name Yang Jing, she almost couldn't hold back her voice, "Didn't Du Heng write it?"
Deng Ying looked down at her and asked, "Are you talking about Du Heng, the editor of the Imperial Academy?"
Yang Wan was suspicious: "Is there another Du Heng?"
Deng Ying shook his head. "This person is seriously ill and has been out of the hospital for more than a month. But the Biography of Five Sages was written at the end of last month. The whole article is not long and it took the author about ten days to write it. Why did you mention Du Heng?"
How to answer
Tell him that the historical data does not match the facts
Yang Wan was horrified and subconsciously grabbed the edge of the screen.
Historical research is so difficult that she has suffered a lot after immersing herself in it for ten years.
When she started writing the notes during the Zhenning period, she had built a framework for the notes, but in just two years, the framework was full of holes. There were countless places that were erased by the superiors and revised by later generations. It seems that the pile of documents that have been passed down to the present, although extremely precious, have few credible words.
"Hey... this lady."
The shopkeeper sent someone back and saw Yang Wan standing in front of the screen in a trance. He tried to go forward and call her, but was stopped by Deng Ying, "I have something to say to you."
"Oh... yes, sir, you said the same thing. I went to find the engraving that Madam just mentioned, and it's still there. I'll have someone take it out for Madam to have a look."
"good."
Deng Ying glanced at the door and changed the subject, "I just heard vaguely that your Qingbo Pavilion is going to print the "Five Sages' Biographies."
The shopkeeper was a little hesitant when he heard him ask this, "This..."
Yang Wan continued Deng Ying's words, "Kuanqintang also printed the Biographies of the Five Sages. Although you have different editions, you are selling them at the same time. How can you make any profit?"
When the shopkeeper heard her ask this, he didn't dare to answer any more. He took a few steps back and looked the two of them up and down cautiously.
"Who...are you... anyway?"
Yang Wan folded her hands into her arms and raised her eyebrows: "People from the Northern Pacification Division."
"What...what?"
The shopkeeper's face turned pale.
Yang Wan didn't care at all about the fact that she had lied. "You don't believe it, do you?"
She raised her hand and pointed outside, "You can step out now, but once you leave this door, you will just be tried in another place."
After hearing her words, the shopkeeper looked outside tremblingly.
The book market of the Shuntian Prefecture Spring Examination was bustling with activity at this time. Yang Wan knocked on the screen, sneered, and walked out.
The shopkeeper knelt down hurriedly with a plop, "Please give me a way out, my boss has gone south to visit relatives and hasn't come back yet, I'm really scared."
Yang Wan stopped and Deng Ying said, "Take us inside to talk."
"Yes... I'll take you two officers in right away."
Behind Qingbo Pavilion was the printing factory. The shopkeeper led Yang Wan and Deng Ying into the inner back hall of the printing factory and closed the door himself. He did not dare to stand and knelt on the ground, saying in a trembling voice: "The two servants have something to ask."
Yang Wan: "Who was the person who just walked out of here?"
"Oh, I've seen his ivory cards. He is from the palace."
"Which palace?"
"It is said to be Chengqian Palace."
Yang Wan frowned, "Chengqian Palace?"
The shopkeeper's shoulders trembled with fear. "Yeah... he... he... that's what he said."
Deng Ying asked, "What did he discuss with you?"
The shopkeeper said hurriedly, "I dare not lie. He said that the Empress of Chengqian Palace has been unwell recently and is recuperating in the banana garden. She has decided to do good deeds and educate women in the world, so she wants to write a preface for the "Five Sages". What? You are asking us how Qingbo Pavilion makes money. This is the preface written by the Empress of the Palace, how can Kuanqin Hall compare with this edition of our Qingbo Pavilion? With the preface of the Empress, this is the "Six Sages" with the sixth virtuous concubine. We are afraid that we can't sell it as well as Kuanqin Hall."
Deng Ying: “Bring that preface here.”
The shopkeeper did not dare to delay for a moment and hurriedly brought out the preface.
Deng Ying took it and spread it out, whispering to Yang Wan: "Take a look at the handwriting."
Yang Wan quickly scanned the preface written by Deng Ying. The words and sentences were neat, but the handwriting was not that of Concubine Ning.
Yang Wan withdrew her gaze, pursed her lips, pinched her knuckles and took a step back into the shadows, going over the whole thing in her mind as quickly as possible.
On the surface, Yang Jing wrote "Biographies of Five Sages" to praise the virtuous deeds of concubines, and Concubine Ning wrote the preface while in prison. Once this version of "Biographies of Five Sages" circulates in the capital, what will be the direction of court public opinion
Yang Wan thought of the minister named Hu from the previous dynasty, who had written a letter to the late emperor asking him to be kind to the sick and neglected empress, and she felt a chill down her spine.
But this matter is different from the queen who was actually ill.
Although Jiaoyuan was called the place where Concubine Ning recuperated, it was actually the prison where Emperor Zhenning imprisoned the abandoned concubine. Since it was a prison, Concubine Ning would never be able to submit this preface to the palace. Others did not understand this, but Emperor Zhenning himself knew it.
Therefore, in the eyes of Emperor Zhenning, this was a false preface.
Who would have the right to write such a preface for Concubine Ning at this time when she was imprisoned, and publish it together with the "Biographies of Five Sages"
Only Yang Lun.
The sinister intention and careful consideration of this move left Yang Wan puzzled. When did Concubine Jiang come up with such a brain
Seeing that Yang Wan remained silent, the shopkeeper was so frightened that he quickly crawled a few steps on his knees.
"I have said everything I should say. Please do not take me to the Northern Pacification Office... I have elderly parents and children to take care of. There are more than a dozen people in my family who all depend on me for food."
Yang Wan let out a sigh and reached out to help the shopkeeper up. "Don't panic, shopkeeper. This is a misunderstanding. It's a good thing that the Queen in the palace has such a virtuous heart. Find the board you just mentioned so that we can have a look, and then go back to business with peace of mind."
The shopkeeper was still in shock, but after hearing these words he felt as if he had been pardoned. He crawled to his feet and went to find a stick for Yang Wan.
Yang Wan helped Deng Ying walk out of Qingbo Pavilion. Deng Ying's ankle injury was barely sustaining her.
Yang Wan supported Deng Ying into the carriage. His face had turned pale from the pain.
Yang Wan used her sleeve to wipe the sweat off Deng Ying's face. "I'm sorry. I was so obsessed with figuring out what happened that I didn't expect you to be in so much pain."
Deng Ying shook her head and said, "Wanwan, you are so bold."
"What."
Deng Ying smiled, "Impersonating a Jinyiwei is something that can be done right away."
Yang Wan also lowered her head and said sincerely: "Deng Ying, I almost figured it out."
Deng Ying nodded, "Me too."
Yang Wan: "But there is one thing I want to ask you."
"You ask."
"Why would my brother write The Biography of the Five Sages at this time?"
Deng Ying lowered his head and remained silent for a while before responding to Yang Wan: "He is the prince's tutor. The matter involves the Xihua Palace. I need to start the investigation from Zhang Ci Fu."
Yang Wan asked: "Zhang Cong?"
Deng Ying did not deny it. "Zhang Cong is your master, and Zixi is your uncle. They have different political views. Your Highness will have to make a choice in the future."
This sentence reminded Yang Wan.
"If this matter is related to Zhang Ci Fu, then I can understand why Concubine Jiang Xian's schemes have made such progress."
"How do you say it?"
"Zhang Cong and Concubine Jiang conspired to frame my sister, but in fact it was Zhang Cong who used Concubine Jiang to frame Yang Lun."
“It should be more than that.”
Deng Ying raised his head and glanced back at Qingbo Pavilion. "This is also the crime of Concubine Jiang. After Yang Lun was exiled by His Majesty, he can also expose Jiang and help the young prince get rid of the obstacle of the second prince."
Yang Wan lowered her eyes and said, "I want to use Zhang Luo."
"Wan Wan..."
“I know it’s a little risky.”
Yang Wan interrupted him, "But I had already thought about it when I was in Qingbo Pavilion."
She raised her head and said, "Deng Ying, you just need to have someone keep an eye on Pang Ling and protect him if necessary. Don't let him be silenced. Other than that, don't let the East Factory get involved in this matter."
"what are you up to."
Yang Wan: "Try to fight back. I don't want to leave my sister's child in Zhang Cong's hands forever."
After she said this, she suddenly shuddered for no reason.
She couldn't tell Deng Ying that she wanted to find a glimmer of hope for the man in front of her through Yi Lang, but the child's mental barriers had been built too perfectly by Zhang Cong, and she didn't know where to start tearing open the hole.
This is an opportunity, but Yang Wan is still not sure about it. It may even completely anger Zhang Luo and bring her into trouble as well, but she wants to give it a try.
"How can I help you?"
Deng Ying's question made Yang Wan a little surprised. She said hurriedly, "This is not the place to talk. Your foot injury is getting worse. Let's go back and talk about it in detail."
**
Late autumn changed quickly. When Yang Wan and Deng Ying walked into Xuanwu Gate, the wind was blowing and the clouds were pressing, and it was about to rain.
Li Yu squatted at the door of Deng Ying's room holding some clean clothes. He seemed to have been waiting for a long time, and his face was pale due to the wind. When he saw Deng Ying and Yang Wan coming over, he rolled his eyes conveniently.
"Master Deng, didn't we agree to go to the Hall of Justice today? I've been squatting at your door until now... and the result is..."
He glanced at Yang Wan and said, "I won't believe anything you two say from now on."
Yang Wan said: "It's fine if you don't believe him, but what do you mean by not believing me?"
Li Yu stood up. "My sister said that you were going to move out of the Fifth Residence today. She went to look for you but you were nowhere to be found. The palace maids in Chengqian Palace are short-staffed now, and those factory guards are rough men, making a mess. My sister couldn't stand it, so she left her shift and went to Chengqian Palace to take care of it for you. She asked me to tell you that you can't stay there today!"
"oh."
Yang Wan responded with a smile.
Li Yu jumped up and said, "What are you talking about? You can't go back to the fifth institute. I want to see where you sleep tonight."
He was really tired of waiting, and vented his anger on Yang Wan. Now that he was done venting, he felt better and turned to Deng Ying and said, "Let's go."
"Okay, I'll go get the clothes."
Deng Ying said this and walked inside despite the pain. However, the injury on his ankle was so painful that he had to stop and hold onto the door frame after taking just one step.
Li Yu noticed that Deng Ying was walking strangely, so he hurried to the door and asked Yang Wan, "Has his foot injury recurred?"
Yang Wan held Deng Ying's arm, said "hmm", and said to Deng Ying: "Why don't you not go today?"
Deng Ying shook her head. "It's okay."
Li Yu said: "Don't try to persuade him. He taught us that we must be clean. I know that he never takes a bath, so I have been squatting at the door waiting."
After he finished speaking, he squatted down again, holding his clothes, and pouted, "Master, please hurry up."
Deng Ying actually responded with a "OK."
Yang Wan helped Deng Ying into the duty room.
Deng Ying let go of Yang Wan's hand and said, "Please sit down. I'll ask the factory guards to take you back later."
"I haven't finished what I was saying before."
Deng Ying opened the wooden cabinet and said, "Then please let me come back."
Yang Wan watched Deng Ying take out a white silk undershirt from the wooden cabinet, and suddenly said softly, "I can't stay in Chengqian Palace today. Can you let me stay here with you for one night?"