It was the first time that Yang Wan saw Yi Lang walking alone in front of her.
Once a young man starts to grow, he will look like bamboo shoots after the rain.
Yang Wan has been by his side all the time, so it is not obvious yet, but when she thinks back to when she first entered the palace, he was still a child who hugged her thighs and shouted to watch the paper dolls. Now he has become thinner, with stretched shoulders and back. The growth he has seen in the blink of an eye, both externally and internally, is truly amazing.
"aunt."
"Um?"
"Did you just knock your head?"
As she spoke, she looked at Yang Wan's knees and said to the eunuch beside her, "Help her walk."
After saying that, he took a few steps back and walked side by side with Yang Wan.
Yang Wan looked at Yi Lang's shoulders wet by the rain, feeling melancholy.
If he was not a prince, or if he was not the later Emperor Jinghe, a child like him would be likable.
Precocious, independent, responsible beyond her age, and disdains being kept as a pet.
But because of this, he would never have the kindness that Yang Wan hoped for.
"Are you really going to report this to His Majesty?"
"yes."
Yi Lang raised his head and looked at Yang Wan. "The Northern Pacification Office took my tutor away and insulted my aunt. If there is a reason, I will have nothing to say. If the reason is inappropriate, I will ask my father to punish Deputy Envoy Zhang."
Yang Wan lowered her head. "Why do you want to help your aunt? Your Highness feels that your aunt has done many wrong things, right?"
Yi Lang paused for a step, and everyone followed him and stopped.
The raindrops hit the umbrella with crackling sounds, and the water on the ground looked like the rising tide of an autumn sea.
Yi Lang raised his head and looked into Yang Wan's eyes. "Aunt, you did something wrong, but I don't want to see you too sad, so I won't reprimand Deng Ying. But aunt, I can only do this to you alone."
"I see."
Yang Wan didn't want him to say anything more, so she lowered her head and smiled: "Thank you, my Lord."
**
In front of the Yangxin Palace, the draft for the day had just been delivered.
The rain was quite heavy, and the eunuchs who came from the cabinet were all in a mess as they tried to protect the tickets and memorials.
Hu Xiang, holding the sandalwood beads, stood beside Deng Ying and said coldly, "They all deserve to be beaten to death today. Not only are they late, but they also got your Majesty's things wet."
The eunuchs who delivered the draft did not dare to make a noise and beg for mercy outside the Yangxin Palace. After hearing this, they had to kneel down and kowtow to Hu Xiang.
One or two people were so frightened that they knew Hu Xiang was not a man who would show mercy, so they knelt before Deng Ying.
Deng Ying held up a candle, lifted the butter cloth covering the memorials and bills, flipped through the pages and said, "Everyone get up first."
After saying that, he walked towards the inner hall.
Hu Xiang shouted from behind him, "Deng Ying, these people will be beaten today. I said so."
Deng Ying stopped and asked, "Is it the Imperial Household Department or the Eastern Depot that is in charge of the punishment?"
The eunuch kneeling on the ground heard this and hurriedly said, "We, the slaves, beg the governor to have mercy on us."
Deng Ying lowered her head and said, "Then you can go by yourselves."
"yes… "
No one dared to look at Hu Xiang and they all hurriedly retreated to the platform.
Hu Xiang looked at the embarrassed backs of these people and suddenly said, "You are now the ancestor of the Imperial Household Department."
Deng Ying paused but did not respond.
He rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands in front of the door, then walked into the hall holding the presentation tray in his hands.
Inside the palace, He Yixian was preparing the ink for Emperor Zhenning. The ink was thick and astringent in late autumn, so the writing was not smooth. There was a small stove behind the imperial desk, where the ink disc was being heated. Deng Ying saluted in front of the desk, but Emperor Zhenning did not look up. "Wait until I finish writing this character."
He Yixian said, "Master, you have been writing all morning today. Why don't you take a break and have some snacks?"
Emperor Zhenning raised his pen and asked, "What's going on outside, General?"
Deng Ying replied, "Your Majesty, the memorials and bills I sent were soaked by rain, and Hu Bingbi and I are discussing the punishment."
"oh."
Emperor Zhenning looked outside and asked, "Is it raining?"
He Yixian took the memorial from the tray in Deng Ying's hand and carefully placed it next to the emperor. "This morning, the sky was cloudy and the wind was cold. Now it's raining, it's even colder."
Emperor Zhenning motioned Deng Ying to open the memorial, glanced at it and said casually, "It's not that wet, why is it being discussed as a punishment?"
Deng Ying bowed and said, "Your Majesty is merciful. I am ashamed."
Emperor Zhenning took out the draft and said, "Forget it, blame me if you want. I am short of energy today and cannot care about these things."
He Yixian said, "Master, you must take good care of yourself. If you can ask us a question, we will be happy. Master, you are a kind-hearted person. We all live on your mercy."
Emperor Zhenning couldn't help but laugh when he heard this.
"Otomo always praises me when he speaks, which is not good."
After saying this, he paused and asked, "Is the lecture in Wenhua Hall today a big lecture or a small lecture?"
Deng Ying replied: "It's a small lecture, but the title was drafted by the cabinet, and Zhang Cifu is still here."
Emperor Zhenning hummed, pointing to the fur-lined robe behind him, "Send this piece of clothing of mine to Yi Lang, so he doesn't have to thank me."
"yes."
He Yixian straightened the robe herself and handed it to the eunuch. She turned around and walked to the emperor's side and said, "The master loves His Highness the eldest prince, and we servants are also warmed by seeing this. It's autumn now, and the weather is getting colder. The princes are young, and I'm afraid they will suffer. I heard from Imperial Physician Peng that His Highness..."
"What are you so passionate about?"
Before he could finish his words, he was abruptly interrupted by Emperor Zhenning.
Moreover, after Emperor Zhenning asked the question, he actually held up his pen and waited for his answer.
However, this question involved the palace etiquette, as well as human relations and human feelings, and was really difficult to answer. He Yixian was stunned for a moment.
Emperor Zhenning looked at him, smiled, and said with his head down, "There are so many people at the bottom who are counting on you to take care of them. They call you ancestor, and you have done a lot for them."
After hearing this, He Yixian hurriedly knelt on the ground and did not dare to utter a word.
The emperor looked down at him and said, "I am only saying this in this palace. You have had a hard life. When you are old, you have some descendants who are not included in the family tree and are filial to you. Why should I blame you? I am also old. I want to love my son and I want my son to remember the kindness of me as a father. But there are always some people who are not happy to see me as a loving father and a filial son."
As soon as these words were uttered, everyone in the hall, including Deng Ying, knelt on the ground.
Emperor Zhenning knocked on the imperial desk and said calmly, "Get up. I will use your seal."
Seeing that He Yixian still did not dare to stand up, Deng Ying rolled up his sleeves and helped Emperor Zhenning to use the seal.
The conversation in the palace seemed to be a casual one, but the last sentence alluded to the "Biographies of Five Sages". However, He Yixian was unaware of this and still thought that he had spoken out of turn and mentioned the prince, which displeased Emperor Zhenning. He fell to the ground, his body gradually shaking.
"Master, I have something to report."
Hu Xiang stood in front of the ground cover and saw that He Yixian didn't get up, so he didn't dare to come in for a long time.
Emperor Zhenning said, "Go ahead, I see you've been standing there for a while."
"yes."
Hu Xiang then walked into the hall and said, "My lord, please see me in the hall."
Emperor Zhenning glanced outside and said, "Didn't I tell you that you don't need to thank me?"
"How could it be so fast? The person delivering the clothes hadn't even passed the Hall of Supreme Harmony when he met His Highness. Now His Highness has been standing outside for a while. I saw Your Majesty use the seal..."
"When I use the seal, he can also come in. Pass it on."
After saying that, he looked down at He Yixian and said, "Get up."
Yi Lang took Yang Wan into the inner hall.
The lights in the hall were so bright that the shadows of every object seemed to have been torn to pieces.
Yi Lang knelt in front of the imperial desk and kowtowed to Emperor Zhenning.
Emperor Zhenning seemed to be in a good mood today. He motioned for the two to stand up and casually asked Yi Lang, "What did the Cultural Hall talk about today?"
Yi Lang stood up and said, "Mr. Zhang is still lecturing on The Essentials of Zhenguan Politics."
"Oh, come on."
Emperor Zhenning stretched out his arm, motioning Yi Lang to come to him. "Do you understand?"
"Your Majesty, I understand everything."
"good."
Emperor Zhenning raised his sleeve and personally wiped the rain off Yi Lang's forehead.
"It's wet."
Yang Wan felt the Emperor Zhenning's gaze on her, and she quickly apologized, "It is my fault that I did not serve you well."
Before Emperor Zhenning could speak, Yi Lang had already spoken, "Father, my aunt got herself wet in order to protect me."
Deng Ying looked at Yang Wan, who looked neat and tidy, but her shoulders were soaked. Yang Wan knew Deng Ying was looking at her, and she subconsciously tidied her wet hair.
Emperor Zhenning let go of Yi Lang's shoulders and said, "It seems that you are devoted to the eldest prince."
Yang Wan lowered her eyes and replied, "I am ashamed."
The emperor did not say anything more to Yang Wan. He lowered his head and asked Yi Lang, "Why did you come here in such heavy rain?"
Yi Lang walked out of the imperial desk, walked to the front of Emperor Zhenning and bowed, "Your Majesty, I have something to ask you, Father."
"Go ahead."
Yi Lang stood up and said, "Today, Zhang Luo, the commander of the Northern Pacification Division, took away my son's tutor Yang Jing from the Cultural Hall. I don't know why, so I came here to ask my father."
The incense stick on the imperial desk burned into pieces, and the ash fell on the back of Emperor Zhenning's hand.
"Ouch..."
He Yixian hurriedly bent down and blew it for Emperor Zhenning.
Emperor Zhenning withdrew his hand, tilted his head to look at Yi Lang, and said in a stern voice: "How insolent."
He Yixian was the only one in the hall who dared to speak out to persuade them at this time.
"Master, His Highness is young..."
"presumptuous."
These two words were spoken by Yi Lang, and his tone was almost exactly the same as that of Emperor Zhenning.
"The king and father have responsibilities, and as a subject and son, you must accept them when they are due. There is no need for a slave to say anything more."
After he finished speaking, he lifted his robe and knelt down, "Father, Yang Jing of Wenhua Palace is my son's tutor and also my son's uncle. If he is really guilty, then I have been bewitched by him for many days. I am terrified and beg you to explain clearly."
Emperor Zhenning was silent for a while, then whispered, "Are you here today to excuse your uncle?"
Yi Lang stood up and said, "No, I have been taught since I was young that the judicial system of a country should make merits and crimes known to the world, but the Northern Pacification Office has acted without a name and has never made merits and crimes known. I think this is wrong."
Yang Wan stood behind Yi Lang and listened to every word of this.
She raised her head and met Deng Ying's gaze.
Deng Ying didn't say anything, but there was a smile on her face.
Only at this moment did Yang Wan finally understand why Deng Ying cherished this child so much.
Military generals longed for peace in the world, while scholars hoped for nothing more than "political clarity."
Peace in the world can rely on famous generals, but "political clarity" requires a wise ruler.
He doesn't need to be merciful, he just needs to kill properly and not be cruel, but he must never be soft on anyone.
"Yi Lang."
"My son is here."
The emperor was hoarse.
"Do you know what you said to me?"
"I understand that I have offended you, Father. Please punish me, but please also tell me that I have grown up and I must behave myself."
Emperor Zhenning lowered his head and looked at Yi Lang who was kneeling on the ground in silence. After a moment, he said, "In this case, I allow you to summon the Northern Pacification Office for questioning."
"Thank you, Father."
"Back off."
Yang Wan followed Yi Lang out of the Yangxin Palace. As soon as they stepped off the platform, Yi Lang took Yang Wan's hand.
"Aunt, I will never let you be bullied again."
Yang Wan led him towards Chengqian Palace, saying as she walked: "You are still young, your aunt will take good care of you."
Yi Lang raised his head and asked, "Aunt, don't you believe Yi Lang?"
Yang Wan stopped and said, "Aunt is worried that you are not happy."
Yi Lang said: "When you came back from the prison, mother told me that you saved my life and hers. I also always remember that when my father locked me up in Wuying Palace, it was my aunt who took care of me. Aunt, I didn't protect mother well, but I will always protect you. Aunt, when I grow up, I will never let you be a slave again."
Yang Wan smiled and reached out to straighten Yi Lang's collar.
She was extremely conflicted. On the one hand, she hoped that he would grow up quickly and fulfill the wishes of Deng Ying and Yang Lun.
On the other hand, I hope he doesn't grow up.
Let that person live.