Yang Wan wrung out the handkerchief to wash her face, and asked casually, "What happened to the Second Prince?"
"I am weak."
Song Yunqing took a sip of tea, "The little boy is almost one year old, but I heard he is still stupid. He caught a cold last month and had a fever for several days. It is said that after the fever subsided, he couldn't smile or cry in front of people, as if he was possessed by the ghost. The people in the Imperial Pharmacy didn't dare to say anything and kept fooling Concubine Xian and the Queen, saying that the child would become smart when he was older. But Imperial Doctor Peng couldn't help but tell our Shang Yi."
"What?"
Song Yunqing stood up and leaned close to Yang Wan's ear and said, "It's useless to say that."
After listening to this, Yang Wan just said "hmm".
The sound of the water splashing almost drowned out her voice.
Seeing that she had no reaction, Song Yunqing raised his voice, "Yang Wan, you can still take it easy now."
"What are you looking down on?"
"Stop pretending to be confused. The Second Prince is of little use, but the First Prince is now being praised by the whole palace and the whole court. When he grows up and is decided to be the crown prince, the meritorious official who raised him will be more honorable than Shang Yi."
Yang Wan gathered her hair together. "What's wrong? You are usually very cautious. Why did you say the word 'raise' today?"
Song Yunqing said: "Although I have no status, I am your aunt. All children are the same. Look, Your Majesty, Master He raised me since I was a child. Although I am a slave like us, Your Majesty looks at me and us in the same way."
Yang Wan wiped her hands and smiled as she walked, "How do you want me to answer this?"
Song Yunqing said: "Who asked you to answer? It's to make you careful. It's the hardest to be the target of public criticism without anyone to rely on. Empress Ning is... Hey..."
She suddenly sighed and turned to mention Deng Ying, "I used to think that although Director Deng was a good person, he was not a good support for you. Now it seems that it's a good thing that you have this relationship, even if it's just eating together, but also..."
Yang Wan turned around and said, "Yun Qing, I'm with you now."
"Together?"
Song Yunqing didn't react for a moment: "Why are they together?"
Yang Wan lowered her head, "We are together."
"Yang Wan!"
Song Yunqing stood up with a bang, the hairpin on her head shaking, "Are you crazy? How could you let me torture you?"
She used the word "torture".
Yang Wan's scalp twitched twice.
If Song Yunqing is taken as a credible example, then in the popular context of the Ming Dynasty, Yang Wan should have been insulted and ruined last night.
Yang Wan's first reaction was to explain to Song Yunqing that it was what she thought. But if she wanted to explain, she had to describe it.
But how to describe it? If Deng Ying is portrayed as a clean person, then she herself is a lustful and licentious woman; if she is portrayed as clean, then Deng Ying is a filthy and shameless eunuch.
Without the protection of "natural harmony between men and women", someone will always become perverted.
Yang Wan glanced at the table that supported her body last night. Song Yunqing's hand was on it at this moment. She subconsciously said, "Yunqing, come closer, don't stand there."
Song Yunqing thought she was avoiding the main point and suddenly became anxious. "Shangyi has taught me for more than a year, saying that the deep palace is lonely, and you can find some comfort, but you must not ruin yourself. It is because we have read books and learned etiquette that we know how to keep ourselves clean and be respected by the whole palace as female officials. These words are so sincere, and every word is for our own good, why do you..."
"sorry."
Yang Wan interrupted her, "I know I have disappointed you and Shang Yi and the others."
She felt sad when she said this, and there was hurt in her eyes.
Song Yunqing looked at her and couldn't continue to blame her. She relaxed her shoulders and adjusted her tone, "Actually... Shang Yi and I both know your difficulties."
Yang Wan smiled, "Do you think I am with Deng Ying because of Cheng Qian Palace and the little prince?"
Song Yun hugged Yang Wan gently, "I didn't say that, don't think that way."
Yang Wan pursed her lips. "Yun Qing, don't think of me like this."
"Okay... I'm done with saying these things."
Song Yunqing didn't want her to feel bad, so he changed his tone and advised: "Be fine, come to us at 5 o'clock when you are happy, we are still the same as before."
Yang Wan leaned on Song Qingyun's shoulder, "Do you think I'm clean?"
Song Qingyun shook his head, "Yes, of course. Yang Wan, I was anxious because I was afraid that you would be hurt. What I said was just nice to hear. Don't take it to heart."
As she spoke, she looked down at Yang Wan and pinched her back hesitantly, "Factory Director... Is he a good person?"
"You've always said yes."
"What I'm asking is... is he treating you well, and does it hurt when you're having sex with him?"
"It hurts."
"It hurts, I'm fine."
Song Yun patted Yang Wan's back and sighed.
The two of them were rubbing their clothes against each other, and Yang Wan noticed that Song Yunqing was shaking when he asked that question.
The compassion in those words seemed to be comforting Yang Wan, and also seemed to be pitying herself.
"I can't delay any longer. I have to go back."
"Have you had tea?"
"Yes."
She rubbed her eyes and let go of Yang Wan and stood up. "Have you told anyone about this matter between you and Director Deng?"
Yang Wan shook her head, "No."
"Don't tell anyone. Even if someone asks you, you must not admit it."
Yang Wan sat and nodded quietly. "I understand."
Song Yun sighed and said, "In fact, there have been rumors about you and Deng Ying in the palace before, but you were still in the Shangyi Bureau at that time, so we only dared to talk about it secretly. Now that you are in Chengqian Palace, those rumors are even more difficult to hear. You know, although there is no prohibition on eating together in the palace, there is no prohibition on promiscuity. Once you are involved in these two words, you will die without a burial place."
"Yeah. I know. Thank you Yun Qing."
Song Yunqing gathered Yang Wan's hair and said, "Then I'm leaving."
"I'll dress and send you off."
**
As the sun gradually rose to the zenith, Concubine Jiang had been kneeling on the platform of the Yangxin Palace for two hours. She felt dizzy in front of her eyes. Seeing Hu Xiang coming out of the palace, she hurriedly asked, "Hu Bingbi, I handed your Majesty the letter of accusation. Has your Majesty read it..."
Hu Xiang looked down at her and said, "I've seen it, but you're still quiet at this moment."
"Yes, then you..."
As they were talking, they suddenly saw Deng Ying leading Bai Huan and the Minister of Revenue coming from the cabinet duty room. When Concubine Jiang was waiting for her punishment, she had her hair loose and her shoes taken off. She suddenly looked at the foreign minister, hurriedly stopped talking, and raised her sleeves shamefully, trying to cover her face.
As Deng Ying walked, he turned his head and whispered to the eunuch beside him, "Go over and block it for the queen."
Hu Xiang glanced at the sky and saw that it was time to hand in the draft, so he asked Deng Ying, "Do you want to hold a palace meeting today?"
Deng Ying lowered her hands and replied, "Yes."
Hu Xiang lowered his voice and asked Deng Ying: "Why is there a discussion in the palace today? This virtuous lady..."
Bai Huan coughed and Hu Xiang stopped talking.
Deng Ying stepped aside and bowed, saying, "Please come in, Lord."
As soon as the three of them entered the inner hall, they heard Emperor Zhenning say from behind the imperial desk: "Deng Ying, call Zhang Luo over."
After saying this, he raised his hand and exempted Bai Huan from the monarch-subject etiquette, "Please allow the elder to sit down."
Bai Huan thanked him and sat down.
Emperor Zhenning took a sip of tea and asked, "How is the discussion going on about Yang Lun's new tax reform policy?"
The Minister of Revenue replied, "The Ministry of Revenue and several cabinet ministers have held three meetings, and the final policy paper has not yet been written. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"It's okay. Tell me what you want to discuss right here."
"yes."
The Minister of Revenue raised his hand to straighten his official hat. "Originally, it was planned to implement a tax system based on the amount of land in Hangzhou and Jingzhou for a period of one year, which has been effective. Yang Lun personally presided over the land clearance affairs in these two places. The Ministry of Revenue has combined the existing land with the local household registration. After urging the local governments to release the land, the reform can be implemented. However, last year, the dike in Jingzhou broke and more than a dozen counties were flooded. Your Majesty has exempted a small amount of taxes in these counties out of mercy."
"Then let's discuss Jingzhou and Hangzhou."
"yes."
The Minister of Revenue continued to report: "Hangzhou is fine, but there are a few counties and prefectures whose school lands have not yet been cleared."
The emperor bent his arm and supported his chin, "Why are you clearing the school land?"
The Minister of Revenue glanced at Bai Huan and said, "In recent years, the local education has been in deficit. Although the Ministry of Revenue has been compensating for the deficit year after year, it is still stretched. These school fields are not government-run, but were previously awarded to several large academies to support private schools. When Yang Lun was in Hangzhou, the academies were poor, and now that the provincial examination is approaching, the students are also very nervous. I really can't bear to take back the land, so I put it on hold."
Emperor Zhenning asked, "Has no one raised any objection?"
"Yes, Minister Bai was against it at that time."
"Where's Zhang Ci Fu?"
When this question was asked, Bai Huan couldn't help but raise his head.
Emperor Zhenning picked up the teacup and said, "What do you mean?"
Although the Minister of Revenue did not understand why the emperor would deliberately ask about Zhang Cong, he also smelled something a little unusual, and his voice became cautious.
"Zhang Ci Fu... didn't say anything at the time. But I don't know what happened in the cabinet meeting later..."
"Your Majesty, I will report back to you."
Emperor Zhenning raised his teacup and said, "Please speak, Lord."
Bai Huan stood up. After all, he was old, and after sitting for a long time, he felt a little dizzy when he stood up suddenly.
"Just sit down and talk."
"It's all right, old minister."
He took a breath after finishing speaking, "Yang Lun is an old minister and a student. I understand that he has always been interested in local education, so I agreed to temporarily put school land on hold. As for Zhang Cong, he has always had doubts about the new policy. He has been in charge of Wenhua Palace's affairs in the past two years. I have discussed a lot with him on the new policy."
Emperor Zhenning put down his teacup and said, "There is a gap between the two of you."
"Yes, I am guilty."
Emperor Zhenning laughed and said, "This is good for state affairs."
After he finished speaking, he paused and continued, "Let the cabinet discuss this and nominate a lecturer from the Hanlin Academy to take Zhang Cong's position in the Wenhua Palace."
"His Majesty."
"explain."
"Can I ask 'why'?"
Emperor Zhenning glanced at the book of Jiang's crime that was placed beside him and said, "My son is still young. I think it's better for him to read a pure book."
"Yes, I will teach you."
Emperor Zhenning waved his hand and said to the Minister of Revenue, "Continue writing the essays that need to be written. I won't talk about Jingzhou. Now... the results of the Autumn Examination are about to be announced. The school land in Hangzhou should be cleared."
As he was speaking, Hu Xiang reported, "Your Majesty, Deputy Envoy Zhang has arrived."
Emperor Zhenning raised his head and said, "Let's go."
"I will take my leave."
Bai Huan and Zhang Luo passed each other where Concubine Jiang was kneeling.
Zhang Luo walked into the inner hall, and before he could salute, he heard Emperor Zhenning say, "Come here, take this down and have a look."
"yes."
"Kneel down and watch."
"yes."
Zhang Luo opened Concubine Jiang Xian's incriminating book. Emperor Zhenning did not speak while he was reading it. It was not until Zhang Luo looked up in astonishment that he said to him, "Qingbo Pavilion has been sealed for so many days. What are you investigating?"
Zhang Luo crouched and said, "The people at Qingbo Pavilion confessed that it was the palace servants at Chengqian Palace who sent the preface to the pavilion for printing."
"If that's the case, why didn't you question the people from Chengqian Palace?"
Zhang Luo stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I still have some doubts."
"explain."
"Her Majesty Ning Fei is in the Banana Garden, guarded by the Imperial Guards. Unless Cheng Qian Palace has a private relationship with the Imperial Guards, otherwise, Her Majesty's things must have been handed over. Therefore, I believe that this is a fake preface."
"I think it was written by Yang Lun"
"That's what I thought at first."
"hehe."
Emperor Zhenning sneered and asked suddenly, "What about now?"
Zhang Luo knocked hard, "I will definitely get to the bottom of this matter!"
Emperor Zhenning shook his head and said, "I also want to see who I can trust."
"I dare not disappoint your majesty."
Emperor Zhenning lowered his head and looked at me and said, "I have given permission for the eldest prince to question me about the Qingbo Pavilion incident. After finding out, you can report to me yourself."