After hearing this, Deng Ying lifted her robe and slowly sat down.
The cabinet chose to submit a memorial to impeach him at the Imperial Gate tomorrow, rather than presenting it to the emperor through the Imperial Household Department. This move not only left no room for Deng Ying, but also left a way out for the cabinet itself.
He Yixian motioned Hu Xiang to move a chair to the opposite side of Deng Ying, and sat down on it, blocking half of the light in front of Deng Ying. Deng Ying raised her head and looked at He Yi, "The residence of the officials attending the court also has the eyes of the ancestors?"
He Yixian waved his hand and said, "You are the supervisor of the East Factory. Try to tell me who in the capital has your eyes. Deng Ying, you are not unwilling to see him. You just don't want to see him. You don't want your teacher to think of you as a person like Zhang Luo."
As he spoke, he sighed and patted the back of Deng Ying's hand which was placed under the lamp.
"You will be impeached tomorrow. If you don't mention it, are you planning to spend the whole night here copying files and waiting for the Ministry of Justice to arrest you tomorrow?"
Deng Ying put her hands on her knees and said to He Yixian, "Don't worry, Grandfather. Even if I am sent to prison, I will not do anything to damage the prestige of my master."
He Yixian said: "The master also knows that you are a sensible person."
He lowered his voice and said, "Although you suffered some damage after being stabbed, you are still a real palace person, living under the protection of your master. No matter what you think, the Imperial Household Department will not watch you die without helping you."
Deng Ying lowered her eyelids, "I am a humble servant, unworthy of such a great favor."
He Yixian laughed and said, "As a servant in the palace, whether you like it or not, we... share honor and disgrace together."
As he spoke, he lowered his head and rubbed Deng Ying's ankle. "There are still a few hours before the court session at Fengtian Gate tomorrow. Go back and rest up, Hu Xiang."
"Yes, ancestor."
He Yixian pointed at Deng Ying's men and said, "Go and replace him."
**
Deng Ying walked back to the duty room by the moat.
The door was open to the inside, and the charcoal fire was burning brightly in the charcoal basin beside the bed. On the table were two packages of herbs and a package of nuts. Under the nuts was a piece of sheepskin warmer. It was ugly, with completely uneven stitching, and it was just barely sewn together from two pieces of sheepskin.
Yang Wan leaned on his bed and fell asleep.
She slept uneasily and subconsciously grabbed Deng Ying's pajamas folded beside the bed.
Deng Ying carefully put away his things, took off his official uniform, sat next to Yang Wan, and put his feet close to the charcoal brazier.
The snow melted for days, the cold penetrated into the bones, and the old injuries in prison became more and more severe.
Although two years have passed, I can still vividly remember what happened in the Ministry of Justice Prison.
He lowered his head and rubbed his wrist, thinking about what he had said to Yang Wan.
He told Yang Wan that these were marks from the shackles, and the wound on his ankle was hard to get rid of. Although he had been listening to Yang Wan, taking medicine and conditioning his body, the effect was not great. Although he didn't understand at first, he hadn't done anything outrageous to deserve such punishment, but now he wanted to accept these punishments and continue to live.
These are still the same when I think about them now.
The only difference is that he has Yang Wan.
He possessed Yang Wan in a way that seemed extremely dirty to outsiders.
But he knew in his heart that it was actually his delivery to Yang Wan.
Genocide, conviction, castration...
Under the guise of a gentleman, he was losing every game.
Someone cared about his dignity, so the punishments imposed on him were justified and each time was an extremely humiliating process.
But Yang Wan let him win, and let him do the things between lovers with dignity and peace of mind. He didn't dare to refuse the shackles, so she held his hands and restrained him just right. He was afraid of being naked, so she allowed him to keep his clothes intact. She disguised herself as a fragrant prison, not to torture him, but to accommodate the rest of his life and give him a sense of belonging and security.
As for Yang Wan, Deng Ying didn't dare to think about the past two years, which had finally passed slowly.
Even if the road ahead is still dark and unclear, with such a person by your side, and with him walking in front of you, even the bumpy road seems to become less difficult to walk on.
He reached out and gently tucked Yang Wan's hair around her ears, then half-knelt down, closed his eyes and leaned over to kiss Yang Wan's lips.
Yang Wan didn't wake up, she just stretched her legs and kicked the quilt gently. Deng Ying leaned over and pulled the quilt that she had kicked away, covering her forehead and trying to pull her pajamas out of her hands. But she pulled tighter and tighter.
Deng Ying calculated the time and found that it was only one hour away from the second watch.
He simply stopped lying down and sat beside Yang Wan, quietly warming his hands and feet.
The person behind him breathed calmly and turned over wrapped in his quilt, and Deng Ying's pajamas were also held in her arms.
Deng Ying turned her head to glance at Yang Wan's back, and the shadows of the leaves through the window fell on her body.
It was really nice to see her like this before going to court. She had been sleeping the whole time and didn't say anything, but Deng Ying's heart was smoothed out bit by bit.
***
The chilly early spring wind blew across the sky above the capital.
It was just after the second watch. All the court officials (1) in Beijing had left, and lights were lit in the mansions along East and West Chang'an Avenue.
This was the first imperial court in the fourteenth year of Zhenning that the emperor personally attended. It was not a grand court of congratulations, but a real court of discussion. The officials from various departments were not willing to give the emperor a break. Although it was still early and the wind was biting, the officials waiting for the leak (1) still filled the court room.
In the direct room above the Duanmen Gate, the eunuchs prepared cold-dispelling tea for several close ministers of the cabinet.
Yang Lun's fingers, which were holding the teacup, made a crackling sound.
"You don't want to bow your head, and you shouldn't let the teacher bow his head. He is so sick that he can't get up!"
Yuyang stood in front of him and said, "This is what father meant."
Yang Lun was stunned.
Yu Yang said: "This is also to protect the Ministry of Revenue and the officials who signed the agreement with us. Father asked me to tell you that it is right for you not to sign your name. In the beginning of spring, the land administration in Hangzhou will have to go through your hands. The Ministry of Revenue cannot be in chaos now."
After hearing this, Yang Lun choked up.
"Who will sing today (2)?"
Yu Yang said: "We will not recite the memorial today. We will let the officials of the Ministry of Public Administration read it on our behalf. This is also what the elder said."
Yang Lun nodded, stood up and walked towards the front door of the office. After a few steps, he turned back and asked, "Are you going to report to the Ministry of Justice for impeaching Deng Ying?"
"nature."
Xu Yuyang coughed and said, "This person cannot be tried in the inner court. Even if the court cannot be opened, he must be sent to the Ministry of Justice."
Yang Lun was about to say something more, but the eunuch at the gate knocked on the door and said, "My lords, the bell of the Five Phoenix Tower is about to ring."
"knew."
Yu Yang stood up in response and said to Yang Lun, "Go to the court."
**
The long whip hit the ground, and with a bang, all officials entered the court.
When they arrived at the Danchi of Fengtian Gate, the cold wind made the court's clothes rustle and almost tore apart the ritual music of the Bell and Drum Department.
The strong men of the Embroidered Uniform Guard held five umbrellas and four round fans and climbed onto the Danchi from the east and west sides. Soon Emperor Zhenning ascended the Danchi in person. The whips were blown again at the foot of the Danchi, and the Honglu Temple "sang" to start the class. The civil and military classes on the left and right marched side by side and stepped into the imperial road in a mighty manner.
Deng Ying met Yang Lun in the civil servants' class. There was an imperial censor who was in charge of supervising etiquette nearby. Neither of them dared to make any extra glances. When their eyes met, they looked away.
After the ceremony of bowing and kowtowing, the officials of the Honglu Temple came out and reported to Emperor Zhenning the names of the officials who had come to the capital to express their gratitude or who had left the capital to resign.
It was a windy day, and the emperor had no interest in summoning these people, so he only ordered them to kowtow outside the Meridian Gate. The officials of the Honglu Temple withdrew their reports, and He Yixian waited for Emperor Zhenning to ask about the border affairs. Although the Minister of War wanted to report the shortage of military pay in the northwest in person, he saw that the official of the Tongzhengsi had already raised the cabinet's report, so he did not want to report in person, so he just handed the report to the attendant and withdrew to the class.
When the officials of the Ministry of Public Administration saw the Ministry of War leave, they shouted "clean up" (3).
He left the class and said, "Your Majesty, the cabinet has a copy of the book, and I will read it on your behalf."
Emperor Zhenning nodded.
He Yixian said loudly: "Read—"
The official lifted his robe, knelt on the ground, and unfolded the memorial.
A handful of flying swallow's wing ashes fell at Deng Ying's feet.
He lowered his eyes and looked at the gray wings.
The official's dignified voice came into her ears, each word clear and loud, like rocks falling from a high place, each sound hitting Deng Ying solidly.
"After investigation, it was found that the two academies of Chushan and Hudan had a total of more than 1,700 mu of school land, all of which were granted by Emperor Taizu in the fourth year of Hechong. Now, they have been privately occupied by the eunuch Deng Ying of the Imperial Household Department. In the past two years, more than 10,000 catties of grain and rice have been taken from the land, and countless cattle, horses, poultry and fish have been taken. As a result, there have been frequent complaints among students in private schools in Hangzhou, and Chushan and Hudan academies have been left behind. This has disrupted the local education policy and is a great rebellion against the benevolence of the late emperor under the majesty of heaven..."
The entire memorial was not long, and the official from the Ministry of Public Administration read it in less than half a cup of tea with his ups and downs.
After the performance, the officer returned to his position. No one spoke from the steps, not even a cough could be heard.
Emperor Zhenning said, "Present the memorial."
Deng Ying presented the memorial to the emperor on the Golden Platform (4). All the civil and military officials in the court followed his figure as he ascended the stairs.
Emperor Zhenning raised his hand, took the memorial, and said to the big general standing between the steps of the palace: "Take him away."
The captain with a sword came out and escorted Deng Ying off the golden platform.
The emperor was flipping through memorials on the throne when he suddenly called out to Yang Lun.
"Minister Yang."
Yang Lun came out of the ranks, knelt, kowtowed and replied: "I am here."
Emperor Zhenning raised his memorial and asked him, "Why did you sign it jointly with the officials of the Ministry of Revenue?"
Yang Lun knelt down and said, "I once used the excuse of 'the upcoming autumn exam' to prevent the clearing of the southern school fields. Today, the incident has happened and I cannot avoid the suspicion. Therefore, I cannot bear to sign a joint letter with the cabinet. Before the case is investigated, I ask Your Majesty to allow me to wait for punishment outside the court."
Emperor Zhenning laughed and said, "This is your resignation from me."
Yang Lun kowtowed and said, "I dare not."
Emperor Zhenning said: "This is not true. The old minister is seriously ill and cannot bear the responsibility of Hangzhou. If you wait outside the court at this time, you will be neglecting your duties and deeply betraying my kindness."
"Yes, I know my crime. I spoke out of turn. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
Emperor Zhenning called Yuyang out of the train again.
"Minister, your name is also on our joint letter. Has the Ministry of Justice discussed it? Who should be investigated?"
Yu Yang said: "Your Majesty, Fu Bainian, who is in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, needs to be re-examined. In addition, the prefect of Hangzhou and the clerk of the Jieyun Division need to be sent to the Ministry of Justice."
Emperor Zhenning was silent for a while, then he knocked on the throne and said, "Too many."