Chapter Four, The Injured Crane and the Hibiscus (Four)

Li Shan did not dare to look at Yang Lun

Well, it's me again

Saying this, he wiped his face with the water that had splashed on it, folded the wrung handkerchief, and walked towards Deng Ying

While speaking, his body suddenly tensed up, the veins on his neck protruding. It was unclear whether he was in pain or feeling hot, as sweat soaked his entire body

He paused for a moment, seemingly hesitating on how to proceed with his question, so as not to involve too much.

Yang Lun spoke in a calm tone: "I spoke too hastily just now, Master Li, please do not take offense."

My sister has been raised by my mother since childhood, how could she possibly know Deng Ying

He asked deliberately

He wanted to push the window open, but his arms lacked strength, so he could only cling to the window sill, attempting to pry the window latch open

Yang Lun was twenty-eight years old, four years older than Deng Ying. He was also slightly taller than Deng Ying, with deep brows and handsome eyes, and a sharp profile. Today, he wore a dark blue robe and casual attire, with a black ribbon cinching his waist. Hanging from the ribbon was a piece of green jade in the shape of a sunflower. Standing in the cold snowy ground, he presented a dignified appearance and an upright posture, making the eunuchs working on the slope appear even more hunched and stooped.

Yang Lun tossed the kettle to the servant and took a few steps towards Li Shanying, saying, "Master Li, there is no need for you to come here specifically. You serve His Majesty, and my matters should not trouble you."

This was the first time Deng Ying spoke to her

Lord Yang, please take care of your health

At this moment, the execution chamber was enveloped in a deathly silence

"I didn't mean that." She said, while placing the cloth on his forehead.

Then the cat sat down with its back to Deng Ying, using a shovel to stir the charcoal stove, "I mean no offense to you. I won't turn around if nothing happens."

How do you know

Li Shan also glanced back and said, "Zhang Huzi has already left, looking at the time... it should be around this moment."

She said, it sounded as if there were no deliberate emotions, yet Deng Ying surprisingly wanted to hear it again

Li Shan sighed, still staring at his toes. "Ah, I don't know if it's true what those weaklings from Haizi are saying, that for the past ten days, a girl has been secretly taking care of Deng Ying. Recently, quite a few of the medicines I had drying in the courtyard have been moved to the place where Deng Ying is being held. Upon checking, I found that they are all medicines for treating external injuries. Master Yang, I know that your sister is promised to the Zhang family. These matters concern reputation, and it would not be good for the girl if they were to be made public, so I have already dealt with those who needed to be punished."

Yang Wan was not surprised. She raised one hand to support her chin, looking at the shadow on the ground and said with a smile

What happens next

At this moment, it is lamentable that since Yang Wan went missing at Linggu Temple, the Zhang family first became anxious and entrusted others to search everywhere.

Deng Ying strained to lift her neck and look towards the head of the bed

She spoke with a smile, reaching out to rub her shoulders, and then continued to tend to the charcoal fire at her feet, occasionally sniffing, her shoulders rising and falling. Her demeanor could hardly be described as elegant, but it was very natural, so natural that one could almost forget she was sitting in the torture chamber of a eunuch

Do not overthink

However, the Yang family has always produced beauties, regardless of gender, most of whom are striking in appearance. Yang Lun and Yang Qing are no exception, and the two daughters of the Yang family, Yang Xie and Yang Wan, are particularly sought after by noble families in the capital for marriage. Four years ago, Yang Xie entered the palace and was granted the title of Noble Consort Ning after giving birth to a prince. Yang Wan, on the other hand, was betrothed to Zhang Luo, the Inspector of the Northern Town. They were originally set to marry at the end of last year, but due to the major case involving Deng Yi that arose at the end of the year, the prison of the Northern Town was filled with people. Zhang Luo was unable to extricate himself from the bloody chaos for even a moment. After the conclusion of the Deng case, he received a royal command to go south, and the marriage could only be temporarily postponed. They were originally set to marry at the end of last year, but due to the major case involving Deng Yi that arose at the end of the year, the prison of the Northern Town was filled with people. Zhang Luo was unable to extricate himself from the bloody chaos for even a moment. After the conclusion of the Deng case, he received a royal command to go south, and the marriage could only be temporarily postponed

Zhang Huzi removed the binding rope from his ankle, "Don't cough, hold it in, the more you cough, the more it hurts"

He and Deng Ying were both admitted to the imperial examination in the same year, being both fellow students and friends. Although one entered the six ministries and the other worked in the Ministry of Works, their official careers were not similar, they were still often compared by people in the capital

Still here

When to impose punishment

A lamp is lit on the wooden machine by the bedside, and someone is bending over to wash a cloth in the basin

Her hands stretched out in front of the fire, slender and beautiful

Yang ... ... Wan ?

Is Deng Ying still in Haizi?

After the first snowfall, a vast expanse of white covers everything, obscuring all visibility

What are you saying

Go out

At that moment, Yang Wan suddenly spoke again

She brushed aside the messy hair from her forehead and smiled self-deprecatingly

She wanted to say that Deng Ying was too unfortunate, but she felt that showing sympathy at that moment would be an insult to him, so she cleared her throat to cover it up, "I am too cold myself, and seeing that you have a charcoal stove here, I just came in to warm up."

The unbearable pain has begun to subside. Deng Ying lies on the couch, looking up, while Zhang Huzi stands at his feet, untying the ropes that bind him. As he pulls, he says, "After so many years as a knife maker, you are the most unfortunate one I have encountered. To put it nicely, it is the work of the court; to put it bluntly, there is not a single penny to be made. That aside, usually when I provide treasures to those people, they all have to give me a 'no blame for life or death' note, but you do not need to write one. So here I must say, if in three days your situation below is not good and you are taken to the underworld by the Black and White Impermanence, you cannot drag me into it at the King of Hell's place."

Yang Lun immediately recognized the jade pendant; it was made from the jade material he had brought back from Luoyang last year

The person under the light was taken aback and quickly raised their head

I said, do not think too much. Although when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter, and when the wall collapses, everyone pushes, not everyone wishes to take advantage of your misfortune. You are too gentle, making it difficult for me to act against you.

Yang Lun did not understand why Li Shan suddenly wanted Yang Wan to be involved with Deng Ying. Remembering that the Northern Town Pacification Office had just silenced the academy in the capital that spoke out for Deng Ying, he became sensitive and directly pressured Li Shan with words, "I can tolerate it myself, but my sister is a woman; how can she be dragged into this? Master Li, you cannot speak carelessly. There have already been many incidents in Haizi this year, and it is quite unstable. If you were to further..."

Half a month has passed, and even the Yang family has become somewhat discouraged, but only Yang Lun refuses to give up

After speaking, he took out a piece of jade pendant from his sleeve: "Today, someone found this outside the granary. Sir, please take a look and see if it belongs to your family."

Yang Lun stood by the hitching post, took the water bottle, and drank water with his head tilted back

Yes, I understand

However, recalling what Li Shan said, it becomes increasingly unsettling upon further reflection

I understand, thank you, Lord Li

The voice was clear and grating, and Li Shan felt a chill run down his spine, hurriedly saying, "I dare not."

Lord Yang, please remain calm. The fishermen are already searching in the sea, but they have not found anything yet I ... ...

Deng Ying wanted to speak, but she coughed once

However, these three days have been truly difficult to endure. Deng Ying can only bear the pain and sleep in a daze.

Do you feel uncomfortable when you see me

The hair was singed by the flames, becoming tousled and disheveled, loosely piled on the shoulders, with the bare skin of the back exposed, fair and flawless. At that moment, upon seeing the woman's skin, Deng Ying suddenly felt that the physical contact he had desired before the punishment now seemed so despicable and contemptible.

Is it still cold? There are a lot of coals piled outside. Should I go and bring some more in?

It is still the same day, just approaching dusk, with all sounds silenced.

He can only say these two words, but he possesses a certain refinement that he adheres to. Even in a situation filled with shame and embarrassment, his voice is neither cold nor particularly distant; he merely wishes to separate this woman before him from his own predicament.

Afterwards, they will stay with us for a few days, and then be taken to the Office of Ceremonial Affairs by the Ministry of Rites

The sound came from the bedside, accompanied by the splashing of water, followed by the sound of fabric rustling as someone moved.

Li Shanxin hesitated, carefully choosing his words for a moment, and mustering his courage before daring to ask: "May I ask a bold question, sir? Since you are an old acquaintance of Deng Ying, does your sister know..."

Li Shan said: "I am specifically here to discuss this matter with you, sir."

After Li Shan finished speaking, the person in front remained silent for a long time. Unable to restrain himself, he glanced up and saw Yang Lun with a tense expression, his knuckles turning white from being clenched.

Yang Wan merely glanced to the side without turning back, grasping his wrist with her other hand, lifting the arm behind her. "Do not keep propping yourself up like that; you are not a prisoner of the Ministry of Justice now. The door is not locked; they simply do not dare to come in and manage you"

Deng Ying pressed down on the wrist he had pinched, gazing at Yang Wan's silhouette from the side.

The Yang family has always prided itself on being a refreshing force in the officialdom, valuing integrity and scholarship. However, the previous generation was largely composed of bureaucrats who achieved little of significance, yet managed to live comfortably. The elder Yang has now retired due to old age and is engaged in quiet cultivation at a mountain retreat in Zhejiang, having once held the esteemed title of Grand Secretary and served in the previous dynasty's cabinet. The younger generation, however, has not shown much promise; aside from Yang Lun, who entered the officialdom through the imperial examination, there remains only a fourteen-year-old boy named Yang Qing who is still in school. The rest are all young wastrels, idling away in their hometown of Zhejiang, engaging in the silk and cotton trade.

... ...

Deng Ying felt that apart from the one wound that burned like fire, the rest of her body was as cold and stiff as ice.

Li Shan gained respect, and he felt a sense of assurance within. While catching his breath, he scrutinized the young man before him

It is not permissible to let the wind blow at this moment

If it can be said that he was still able to calmly avoid Yang Wan in the storeroom before, now he no longer even has the qualification to avoid her

Aren't you afraid

Yang Lun barely suppressed the shame and anger in his heart and glanced at Li Shan's back

After three days, one can become another person

This is clearer than what many people can express

Li Shan bent down to interrupt him, not daring to mention again what he had inquired about in the warehouse, regarding Yang Wan's repeated visits to see Deng Ying.

The room is very stuffy, and the nasal cavity is filled with the smell of blood

Yang Lun did not respond to Li Shan's words, but stated: "I am here today only to find my younger sister. Yesterday, I heard from a fisherman that about half a month ago, it seemed that a few people fell down the southern slope, so I came to take a look. I will leave as soon as the sun sets, so you may attend to your own matters, Li Zhangyin."

Zhang Huzi wiped the sweat from his forehead and chuckled a few times, "However, you, young man, are truly quite resilient. In the past, there were many who were taller and stronger than you, yet none of them refrained from crying out in pain. When you remained silent at that moment, it startled me to think you might have died right here.

The snow outside has almost stopped, and in the clear sky to the west, the outline of the setting sun can be faintly seen.

Well

The floorboard creaked, and Deng Ying's palm suddenly lost its support and fell to the ground, coming into contact with Yang Wan's back

Why did you just ask about Deng Ying

Adult

I

After he finished speaking, he reached out and pulled the binding rope from his wrist, slinging it over his shoulder. He lowered his head and said to him, "Alright, just endure it. These three days are a matter of life and death. If you get through it, you will have crossed the threshold of the underworld and can become another person."

Upon waking, I thought a long time had passed, yet as I opened my eyes, the sky outside was still bright

Please don't drive me away. I had already decided not to come to you at this time, but I couldn't help but take a glance at you just now

Deng Ying seemed to have taken his words to heart and stubbornly suppressed her cough

Yang Wan smiled and said, "Ah, in the twelfth year of Zhengning, being surnamed Deng is a crime. If you get involved, you will have to face the Jinyiwei. Even Yang Lun knows to avoid it; who doesn't know to stay away?"

Only after Yang Lun heard this sentence did he finally understand his true intention

On a regular basis, one has to handle official duties within the department while also searching around Linggu Temple. After half a month of this hustle, one has noticeably lost quite a bit of weight.

He interrupted the current topic, turned over and mounted his horse, "I will now go into the sea with you to search."

My lord, we are indeed guilty. Previously, Lord Zheng from the Imperial Ceremonial Office came and inquired about this matter. Only then did we realize we had caused a significant problem, and we dare not evade responsibility. If you require anything, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Line

Deng Ying propped himself up and glanced at his lower body. A piece of white cotton cloth covered his wound, and apart from that, there was no other covering on his body. The despair brought about by his physical injuries and exposure had created a breach in his resilient mental barrier, threatening to overwhelm him. For a brief moment, the word "death" actually flashed through his mind.

He speaks with caution and is also appropriate in his manner

Do not come over

He was getting older, running while speaking in a hurry, and before he could finish his words, he was choked by the biting cold wind, coughing unsteadily.

Li Shan hurried over from the snow path and greeted Yang Lun, saying: "Lord Yang, you arrived at Haizi but did not even greet me here. I..."

When he said this, he unconsciously grasped the pendant of the hanging jade.

After searching for several days without success, it was as if the engagement had not been settled at all, and I no longer mentioned it to Yang Wan.

Sir, as servants, we are anxious upon seeing this jade pendant, fearing that Lord Zhang Luo will return to the capital and learn that we failed to recognize Miss Yang, allowing her to suffer here for these past few days. He might come with those officials from the Jinyiwei to skin us alive. Right now, the people below are already in an uproar; it would be better for Lord Yang to wait a little longer, as it is possible that she will be found tonight.

Busy grasping the past in my hands, "Where is my sister?"