Yang Wan was very tired the night before and did not wash up properly. She stayed in Chengqian Palace the whole day.
Near dusk, someone from the Central Palace came to pass on a message, saying that the Imperial Pharmacy was preparing autumn and winter tonic prescriptions for the empress, and summoned Yang Wan to go over. This was the rule of the inner court, and every time the season changed, the Imperial Pharmacy would prepare new tonic prescriptions for the six empresses based on the pulse records. But the prince was precious, and every time a prescription was prepared, the empress would personally inquire about it. If necessary, the Imperial Pharmacy would talk to the person who took care of the prince personally before making a final decision.
The palace maid led Yang Wan straight into the back hall of Kunning Palace. The inner hall was burning with a light scent of Shouyang incense. The empress was a meticulous person, and even though it was past the hour of You, her makeup was still appropriate.
The four imperial doctors from the Imperial Pharmacy stood in front of the empress and talked. The empress asked a question and they answered it. The empress listened and nodded. When the palace servants found a chance to talk, it was already dark outside. The empress motioned Yang Wan to come in, accepted her greetings, and asked her to stand beside her.
"Go on."
Imperial Physician Peng said, "Since the aunt from Chengqian Palace is here, I will ask about the health of the Grand Master."
“.”
Yang Wan knelt down and saluted, "Please ask, doctor."
Imperial Physician Peng said, "Your Highness has had liver qi rising since the beginning of autumn, but now it seems to be recovering."
Yang Wan replied, "I have been following the prescription you gave me, using diet to relieve the symptoms, and drinking Platycodon grandiflorum tea all the time. The symptoms of dry lips and eyes have been mostly cured."
Imperial Physician Peng continued to ask, "Can the tinnitus be relieved?"
"I don't want to hear your Highness talk about this disease anymore."
"Does your highness get up often at night?"
"Not much, but Your Highness is studying later today."
Upon hearing this, Imperial Physician Peng reported to the Empress, "This still needs to be clarified by the people around the prince. Your Majesty, the prince's tonic can be decided now."
The Queen raised her hand and handed the prescription that the imperial physician had presented to Yi Lang to Yang Wan. "When Concubine Ning was here, she was better at this than I am, and sometimes she could even discuss matters with the imperial physicians. Now, His Majesty has entrusted the crown prince to you, so you should take care of him for her. If there is anything wrong, you can tell me directly."
After saying this, he rubbed his forehead and asked the outsider, "How is Jiang's situation? Has His Majesty granted amnesty?"
The eunuch heard the queen's question and hurried in to whisper, "Madam Jiang, this...Madam Jiang is still kneeling outside the Yangxin Palace."
"Why… "
The Queen sighed and handed Yi Jue's prescription to Yang Wan, "Read these two prescriptions together for me to listen to. If there is nothing wrong, I will give it to the Imperial Pharmacy."
Yang Wan took the prescription and said, "Since the virtuous lady cannot come, then let's summon the second palace maid to ask."
"Don't think about it."
The Queen waved her hands, "Have you forgotten about the Heju case? I've seen that child grow up, but I don't know if he was frightened at that time. I heard from Concubine Ning that when Yi Lang was as old as Yi Jue, he would smile when he saw His Majesty, but Yi Jue... ah..."
She sighed as she spoke, "No more laughing, no more crying."
After hearing this, the four imperial doctors looked at each other, but no one responded.
The queen pressed her brows together, "Yang Wan."
"The servant is here."
"You should listen to what I say. His Majesty has few offspring and cannot afford any harm. His Majesty trusts you, so you must do your best and live up to His Majesty."
"I understand."
After this exchange, the queen had said what needed to be said and scolded what needed to be scolded. She became less energetic and said, "Okay, the gate of the meeting place will be locked soon. You guys go now."
The imperial doctors bowed and left. The empress asked a few more questions about the affairs of Chengqian Palace. As Yang Wan was answering, a message suddenly came from the Yangxin Palace saying that Jiang had been stripped of her title and confined to Yanxi Palace.
The queen replied, "I understand." Suddenly, she stopped the person who had summoned her and asked, "Did your majesty tell me the reason for the crime?"
"Madam, she said that Jiang slandered Concubine Ning and criticized the eunuchs harshly."
The queen raised her eyebrows. "Is this the original statement?"
“.”
The Queen glanced at Yang Wan and asked, "When did she ever slander Concubine Ning?"
Yang Wan bowed and replied, "There are usually some things in the Yanxi Palace that are not heard. As a servant, Yang Wan can only protect the palace and dare not ask about the masters' affairs."
The Queen smiled and said, "That's why Jiang Shangyi praised you. You are a smart person. Look, no matter how she makes trouble, Your Majesty knows what's going on."
After that, he asked again: "Where is the eunuch who jumped into the river?"
"Your Majesty ordered that he be beaten to death."
"oh… "
The queen responded, clasped her hands together and said "Amitabha", "That's fine, committing suicide in the inner court is also a serious crime, I will go to see Yi Jue now."
"Your Majesty, you still have to prepare to receive the imperial edict. Hu Bingbi is already on his way."
The queen said nothing, but sent someone to come and fix her hair."
The Queen was not surprised by this decree. Jiang was convicted and could not raise Yi Jue. It was only natural that the Emperor would have his intentions in the Imperial Palace. But in the final analysis, she did not want to take over this child with no talent at all.
Yang Wan left the Kunning rear palace on the pretext that the empress was preparing to receive an imperial edict.
The autumn wind was howling outside, and the palace maids who were lighting lamps in various places walked carefully, protecting the fires.
The weather was dry in late autumn, and there had been several fires in the imperial city in the past month. The palace servants who lit the lamps in various places had to be more careful.
Yang Wan listened to the cautious footsteps beside her ears and sorted out the current situation step by step.
Like Concubine Ning, Concubine Jiang was a concubine whose name was not even recorded. Although Yang Wan had put her in such a situation, this still did not make Yang Wan sure that she had really won anything in this game at Qingbo Pavilion.
The rest depends on Zhang Luo, to see if he will really go for Zhang Cong.
Also, if he succeeds, he will succeed in time.
After all, the "History of Ming Dynasty" records that in the winter of the 13th year of Zhenning, Zhang Cong took the lead and jointly signed with several cabinet ministers including Bai Huan to impeach Deng Ying for occupying the school land of the two major academies in Hangzhou. This impeachment lasted for two full months, during which two cabinet ministers resigned, and Bai Huan was even stripped of his official uniform and thrown into the East Factory Prison. However, in the spring of the 14th year of Zhenning, the angry candidates for the Spring Examination gathered in front of Bai Huan's house and knelt and cried to appeal. The Emperor of Zhenning could not bear the resentment of the students and ordered Deng Ying to be imprisoned.
This period of imprisonment was recorded in only a few dozen words in Ming history, but Yang Wan later read this passage in Yang Lun’s private collection.
"We meet again after several months of separation. Although we are still the same as yesterday, my soul has been shattered by seven bones, but my literary heart is still there, and my blood is as strong as my bones."
This article is a travelogue of the suburbs of Beijing, written by Yang Lun in the autumn of the 14th year of Zhenning.
When Yang Wan read this, she wanted to cry.
There has been no evidence to prove who this person Yang Lun wrote about, but Yang Wan felt that it was Deng Ying who had just been released from prison.
Yang Wan thought about it and couldn't help but hope that Zhang Luo could be more ruthless than she imagined. Although this would undoubtedly force Zhang Luo to kill his father, Yang Wan couldn't think of anyone else other than Zhang Luo who could do something to Zhang Cong.
However, she never dared to guess specifically what Zhang Luo would do to her after that.
A shiver ran through her body, causing a cramp in her stomach. She hadn't eaten for most of the day, and was thinking of going to the moat room to cook two bowls of rice with Deng Ying, but as soon as she walked out of the side door of Kunning Palace, she saw He Yu running towards Yang Wan, breathless.
"Aunt, go quickly."
"What's wrong?"
Yang Wanxian realized, "Is there something wrong with Your Highness?"
"No, Your Highness, but you are Governor Deng?"
"ah?"
Yang Wan subconsciously quickened her pace. He Yu chased after her and said, "We don't know what happened. The princess refused to eat anything after coming back from Wenhua Palace today. I touched the princess's forehead and found it was very hot, but the princess did not allow the imperial physician to be summoned. She even threw the tea I handed her. We originally wanted to come to find aunt, but we were afraid that if we came to find aunt rashly, the queen would know and cause aunt to be in trouble. As a result, the confused Qing Meng went to the inner east factory to find the supervisor..."
Yang Wan tripped and nearly fell, "And then?"
He Yu hurried to help her, her voice becoming more urgent: "Then the prince ordered the supervisor to go into the study and said something that we servants didn't understand. I don't know why, but the supervisor angered the prince, and the prince passed on the stick, aunt... I also tried to persuade her, but it didn't work..."
Yang Wan didn't hear clearly what was said afterwards.
She remembered what He Yu said to her this morning and what Deng Ying said yesterday: "The prince will beat me to death." She probably guessed that Yi Lang would suddenly get angry because of He Hui. However, when she rushed to the gate of Chengqian Palace, she found it closed.
He Yu stepped forward and asked, "Why are you closing the door?"
The eunuch looked at Yang Wan apologetically, "This is the order of Your Highness. I dare not disobey, please forgive me, Aunt. Your Highness said that he did it for your sake. If you don't want the Supervisor to be severely punished, please wait here."
Yang Wan looked up at the palace gate. The crown of the Yuyang tree was already more than half bare. If plants and trees are bald, this is like a sign of human life. How long can a person live under punishment? Not long. Yang Wan thought of Deng Ying's body. Even with the cover of clothes, she could still see the residual intention. Her heart ached and she bit her lip.
"Aunt, what should I do?"
What to do, there is nothing I can do.
Yi Lang knew that Yang Wan would never cry and make a fuss in front of the Chengqian Palace gate for a prisoner, so when the palace gate was opened, those who should suffer suffered, those who should endure endured, and those who should "kill" did so. Everyone inside and outside the gate knew what was going on and felt happy at the "pain".
In the study room of Chengqian Palace, Deng Ying was still kneeling, and Yi Lang stood in front of him. Although his throat was a little hoarse from the burning sensation, he stood straight.
"I have forgiven you many times, but I cannot forgive you this time."
"I don't want to ask for forgiveness."
Yi Lang lowered his head, "You once told me that eunuchs should not be treated with mercy."
“.”
"But I don't understand. As a eunuch, why do you say that? Aren't you afraid of punishment? Or aren't you afraid of death?"
Deng Ying bent over with her blue sleeves spread on the ground, her forehead touching Yi Lang's feet.
"Your Highness, I was originally a criminal, and I was pardoned by Your Majesty, so I have some time to live. No matter how severe the punishment is, it is not too much for me. But now that I am alive, I don't want to die too early."
"Why? The descendants of the criminals who were convicted with you all starved themselves to death in Nanhaizi. How could you swallow that meal?"
Deng Ying coughed.
"The three main halls are not yet completed, and I am worried."
Yi Lang asked, "I believe this, but what happened later? After the Tongjia Academy case, why did you take charge of the East Factory? Raise your head and answer."
Deng Ying raised her head and said, "Can I ask Your Highness how your teacher answers this question?"
Yi Lang was silent for a moment, then said: "You are greedy for power and disrupt the judiciary, but..."
Yi Lang changed the subject and looked into Deng Ying's eyes. "I am still young, and I don't have the right to speak in the court. I can't see or understand many things, but I don't want to listen to one side. When I am older and my father allows me to participate in politics, I will be able to see and understand."
After he said that, he took a step back and called Deng Ying's name directly.
"Deng Ying."
"The servant is here."
"Do you know that you will be blamed for what you did today?"
Deng Ying nodded, "I know. When Your Highness called me to the side hall this morning, I have been waiting for Your Highness's decision."
"So do you have anything to say?"
"have."
"explain."
"Please show some mercy, Your Highness, and stop beating me."
Yi Lang said coldly: "Are you begging for mercy? Didn't you say before that we should not show mercy to eunuchs? Are you just saying that?"
"No... I am already in poor health. Please don't take my life at this moment. I still have unfinished business."
After hearing this, Yi Lang suddenly felt an inexplicable palpitation.
He used to hate eunuchs begging for mercy from their masters, but even though the man in front of him was begging for mercy, he seemed unable to hate him.