The next day, before dawn, Deng Ying got up.
Yang Wan came out of Yi Lang's room with a lamp on, "Are you leaving?"
Deng Ying nodded.
Yang Wan gathered the clothes on her shoulders and said, "It's still early, why don't you sleep a little longer?"
"I have to go to the Ministry of Justice first."
He raised his arm and said, "I have to ask the Ministry of Justice to temporarily untie it. I haven't washed and combed my hair for a few days. I can't lose my manners in front of the emperor."
Yang Wan nodded, without asking any more questions, stepped aside, and waved to Deng Ying, "Then walk slower."
"good."
Yang Wan watched Deng Ying walk out of Chengqian Palace before returning to her own room while keeping the lights on.
The incense she had burned for Deng Ying before she left had burned out, but the residual fragrance was still there. The water Deng Ying had used to wash herself was quietly placed at the door. The bed was neatly made, as if no one had ever slept there. Yang Wan put down the light and sat on the bed for a while, thinking of the last night when Deng Ying still didn't dare to eat noodles in front of Yi Lang, and hid in her room with the bowl in her hand.
At that time, he sat on her bed, leaning forward carefully and holding the bowl very low, for fear that his hands would be unsteady and the soup would spill.
Yang Wan thought about it and raised her hands to support her face, then curled up and leaned back on the bed.
People's hearts are changing, except Deng Ying's.
He lived his life cleanly and carefully.
How can I make him relax? Yang Wan closed her eyes and suddenly remembered the night she spent with Deng Ying.
She patted her face quickly, and suddenly hoped that there would be a few psychology books in this era that were in line with the civilization background of this era. After all, interdisciplinary topics were a hot topic in the 21st century. If there were any, she would be willing to spend some time studying them.
**
Qi Huaiyang was the only one in the Ministry of Justice. He was sitting at his desk, writing a document. It was still dark, and the shadow of the candle flickered gently on the wall. Qi Huaiyang lit a pot of charcoal and placed it at his feet. Sparks were crackling, and he could vaguely hear the sound of iron chains rubbing against the ground. He put down his pen and looked up.
"Lord Deng."
Deng Ying bowed and saluted, "Master Qi."
Qi Huaiyang stood up and walked out from behind the desk. Seeing two factory guards following Deng Ying holding Deng Ying's official uniform, his tone became polite.
He said to Deng Ying, "There was no trial or inquiries today. What is the purpose of your visit?"
Deng Ying said, "I have to go before the Emperor today, and I would like to ask Your Excellency to give me a favor and allow me to change my clothes."
After hearing this, Qi Huaiyang called the officer in and said, "Help Director Deng untie it."
The officer came forward to open the lock, and Deng Ying cooperated quietly.
Qi Huaiyang couldn't help but ask, "Does Your Majesty still keep the memorial from the Ministry of Revenue that impeached Lord Bai?"
Deng Ying said, "We will discuss this today."
"Has His Majesty summoned the Imperial Household Department?"
"Yes."
Deng Ying frowned as he spoke, and the two factory guards behind him immediately shouted at the officers fiercely, "What are you doing?"
The two officers were so frightened that their faces turned pale.
Deng Ying turned around and said, "Let's go out and wait. Leave your clothes behind."
Qi Huaiyang looked at the two factory guards who were driven out and said softly, "Yang Lun told me to help you. Although I am not very powerful in the Ministry of Justice, I can still make decisions on these matters."
Deng Ying did not respond to Qi Huaiyang's words. He lowered his hands and looked up and said, "Master Qi, how is Elder Bai doing?"
"I got better last month." He sighed again, "Not all illnesses can be cured with medicine nowadays."
Deng Ying couldn't help but smile after hearing this, "Deng Ying is learning from you."
Qi Huaiyang turned around and said: "What I am worried about now is the meeting with the eunuchs and what the result will be."
As soon as he finished speaking, the torture instruments on Deng Ying were removed.
"My Lord, it's done."
Qi Huaiyang nodded and said, "Oh, let's go first."
After saying that, he saw Deng Ying bending down alone to pick up his official uniform, and added: "Master Deng, you can let your people come in to serve."
Deng Ying looked back at the door and said, "Forget it, they are not slaves."
Qi Huaiyang saw Deng Ying carrying clothes into the inner hall, and said to the officers, "Be careful in a moment."
The officer said hurriedly: "To be honest, sir, if we hadn't really dealt with the head of the East Factory, we wouldn't dare to believe that he was such a person."
After hearing this, Qi Huaiyang waved his hand and said nothing. He went back to his desk and continued writing his report.
Deng Ying only took a cup of tea to come out. The officers who were putting the torture instruments on him felt a little reluctant. Deng Ying looked aside and said to Qi Huaiyang casually, "Is Minister Bai still writing the letter of guilt?"
Qi Huaiyang said: "No, the Shangshu suppressed it."
"Um."
Deng Ying nodded, and after the officers left, he saluted Qi Huaiyang again.
"Thank you, sir. Please also thank the Shangshu for me."
Qi Huaiyang stood up and returned the greeting, "Good morning, Governor."
**
The Yangxin Palace was exceptionally quiet on this day.
The Imperial Household Department and the Cabinet stood on either side, an official from the Honglu Temple stood in the middle, reading aloud the report submitted by the Secretary of the Household Department.
The petition was not long, but the official still recited it for a long time with ups and downs.
The smoke from the crane-head furnace was so thick that it made Yang Lun's eyes hurt. He had a bad temper to begin with, and he felt that the report was nonsense, so he couldn't help but cough twice. Emperor Zhenning glanced at him, and the censor beside him immediately recorded Yang Lun's behavior on the table.
The official finally finished reading the petition, and Emperor Zhenning took the censor's record and read it while asking, "Did Minister Yang have anything to say?"
Yang Lun knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, the elder is a veteran of two dynasties. He has been the examiner of the imperial examinations many times and has countless students. Even if someone as treasonous as Liang Weiben appeared, it is inevitable."
Emperor Zhenning said: "This has no real meaning to me. What I mean is..."
At this point, Emperor Zhenning coughed several times in succession. All the ministers in the cabinet knelt down and said in unison: "Your Majesty, take care of yourself."
The people from the Imperial Household Department fetched water or held basins to help Emperor Zhenning rinse his mouth.
Deng Ying waited for Emperor Zhenning to rinse his mouth before presenting him with a bowl of tea. Emperor Zhenning looked at his hands and said, "Your hands and feet are not in good condition, so you don't need to serve me."
He Yixian said: "Master, you are kind, but he cannot be devoted, and he is also worried."
Emperor Zhenning laughed, took the tea from Deng Ying and drank it, then said to He Yixian, "I will go in and change my clothes."
Having said that, he stood up, and Hu Xiang hurriedly followed him.
When the cabinet ministers saw Emperor Zhenning act like this, although they were resentful, they dared not say anything.
He Yixian took a step closer to the ministers and said, "This matter involves the Japanese pirates in Zhejiang. Your Majesty means that the case should be tried."
Bai Yuyang could not help but said, "Your Majesty saw us in person today, but he refused to tell us in person and instead let the seal be passed on. What's the logic?"
He Yixian glanced towards the inner hall and bowed, saying, "Minister Bai, please don't be angry. I am just a bug passing on the message to your majesty."
Bai Yuyang gnashed his teeth and wanted to stand up, but then he remembered that Emperor Zhenning did not call him to stand up when he came in. He felt really embarrassed kneeling in front of He Yixian. His anger subsided and he could not say what he wanted to say.
He Yixian lowered his head and looked at Bai Yuyangda: "Minister Bai, His Majesty still sympathizes with Elder Bai. Yesterday, he summoned the envoy of the Northern Pacification Office to the palace and personally instructed him to treat the elder with courtesy."
After hearing this, Bai Yuyang suddenly realized that Emperor Zhenning had left under the pretext of changing clothes because he did not want to announce this decision in front of them.
"My father is a cabinet minister. Even if he needs to be tried, it should be handed over to the three courts. How can he..."
"Master Bai, this is very disrespectful!"
He Yixian clapped his hands to interrupt him, and said to the censor beside him: "This must be recorded."
"… "
Yang Lun pulled Bai Yuyang hard from behind.
"Stop talking..."
He Yixian said: "This is your majesty's grace, Minister Bai, do you understand?"
Bai Yuyang didn't say anything.
Yang Lun lowered his voice and said: "Speak..."
Bai Yuyang then said angrily: "I made a mistake in my words."
He Yixian then continued, "Your Majesty said yesterday that the minister is old and there are family members who cannot be disturbed, so during the trial, Your Majesty does not allow searches. Minister Bai, these are all God's grace, you must think carefully."
As they were speaking, the curtain door of the inner hall was raised by a palace maid, and Emperor Zhenning walked out from behind the curtain. Everyone bowed again.
Emperor Zhenning walked to the imperial throne and sat down.
"How did the discussion go?"
He Yixian bowed and said, "Your Majesty's grace, I have already told the gentlemen."
Bai Yuyang said: "Your Majesty, this slave was arrogant in front of the palace and slandered my father. Please punish him severely!"
Emperor Zhenning said, "I have not been eating well these days. The elder has been bedridden, and I am worried day and night. From time to time, I think of what the late emperor said to me before he died. The elder taught me carefully when I was young. Although he is not my lecturer, I also regard him as my imperial teacher. Today I have a few words from the heart."
He picked up the teacup and said, "I have been in office for four years. I have been prudent and self-disciplined. Except for the three main halls, I have never used the internal crossbow to repair the place where I live. These servants around me have served me for so many years, and I have only rewarded them with a few casual clothes. I can listen to your reprimands. You want to investigate the school land case..."
He looked at Deng Ying and said, "I have also let him serve, but I cannot be without someone to serve me. Will you serve me?"
After this speech, many people responded.
Emperor Zhenning pressed his eyebrows together and said, "Let's stop here."
Yang Lun said: "Your Majesty, I ask Your Majesty to think again."
Bai Yuyang also kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I will resign from my post to avoid suspicion. Please hand my father and Liang Weiben over to the Three Departments."
Emperor Zhenning laughed and said, "You don't believe me."
"I will wait for your death."
As soon as the voice fell, the eunuch outside the palace reported that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had arrived.
Emperor Zhenning ordered it to be brought in.
Deng Ying couldn't help but look up towards the palace gate.
Yi Lang stepped into the hall and saluted. Seeing that all the ministers were there, he stood up, bowed and said, "Your son will be waiting outside the hall."
Emperor Zhenning waved at him, "No problem, come over here."
Yi Lang walked to the imperial throne, bowed and presented the item.
"This son of yours happened to find this today, please have a look, Father."
He Yixian presented the Qingci on behalf of Yi Lang.
Yi Lang stood up, looked at the kneeling ministers and said, "Father, what happened to the ministers?"
Emperor Zhenning did not answer him, but read out a line from the Qingci: "Leaving the nine heavens to respond to the will of heaven, ruling the four seas and mourning the people. "This line is very good."
Yi Lang turned around and said, "Father, you were appointed by heaven and are a benevolent ruler. You pity the elder's illness and the suffering of the servants. You show kindness to everyone, and it cannot be said to be unfair."
"just."
Emperor Zhenning repeated these two words.
Deng Ying leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty, I have a request."
"speak."
"Your Majesty, please let me judge the case of the elder."
He straightened up a little as he spoke, "Your Highness said that you sympathize with the old man's illness and pity my suffering, which is not unfair. I am now awaiting punishment because of the old man's impeachment. If we talk about fairness, the old man's crime should be investigated by me."