Chapter 29

The following month, Yan Heng secretly slipped into the Second Princess's study again.

"Sister Lu, why are you reading all the time?"

You should read more too.

"Okay, sister, I've actually been reading a lot lately."

"Then why are you here with me now?"

"hey-hey"

The second princess looked up at Yan Heng, then put down the book in her hand.

"Trying to leave the palace again?"

Yan Heng nodded guiltily.

What places outside the palace attract you?

"There are many kinds of food that you can't find in the palace, and you can also listen to storytelling."

"If you need these things, Huang Shang will naturally provide them for you."

"I don't want to. I don't like this feeling. Because of the Empress's favor, everyone flatters me. I've only ever had one friend, Yun Song, since I was a child. But it's different outside the palace."

"You don't want to be the Phoenix Princess anymore?"

"Oh, actually it's not that. After all, the Empress still loves me very much, it's just..."

Have you ever said these words to anyone else?

Yan Heng shook his head.

"Remember, never say this to anyone."

"Okay, sister."

The second princess took out the token and handed it to Yan Heng, who was also surprised.

"elder sister"

"Please be careful and come back before dark."

Yan Heng hugged the Second Princess's arm.

"My older sister is so good to me, unlike Sister Yuan."

The second princess immediately covered Yan Heng's mouth.

"Shh, there are too many people and too many eyes in the palace. Talk less and do more."

"I see"

Yan Heng also lowered his voice.

"Why is my sister so cautious even in her own palace?"

"Only those who distrust everyone can survive longer in this palace."

Yan Heng pouted.

"Hmph! You don't even trust me, sister!"

The second princess smiled indulgently.

"I do have some doubts. How about you return the token to me?"

Yan Heng immediately put away the token and left the study.

"Sister, please rest well. Heng'er is leaving now."

Yan Heng returned to his room.

"Yun Song, go and get me a set of commoner's clothes."

"How could someone of Phoenix's status wear such lowly things!"

"So you've learned to talk back to me now, haven't you?"

"Your subordinate dares not."

"Then go quickly!"

Yun Song rushed to the laundry room, bought two sets of servants' clothes, and returned to his room.

"Phoenix, I've brought it."

Yan Heng took it and examined it.

Yan Heng was delighted by the rough texture, and even the fading and patches in some places.

"Great! We'll wear these after we leave the palace tomorrow."

"yes"

After leaving the palace with Yun Song, Yan Heng spent the morning listening to opera at a teahouse, then had lunch at a street vendor's stall. After eating, they went to Nine Stars. Yan Heng was particularly happy along the way, free from rules and constraints, like a free little bird.

At this moment, Yan Heng saw the same peddler who had sold him books before, sneaking around trying to sell his books. Yan Heng was furious and immediately went up to him.

"You... the book you sold me for such a high price last time was a banned book!"

The vendor immediately covered Yan Heng's mouth.

"Shh, keep your voice down! Isn't that obvious? How could a book be so expensive if it weren't banned!"

Yan Heng thought about it and it seemed to make some sense.

"Young master, I've just gotten some new books from the black market. Would you like to take a look?"

"I don't want to; I'd rather not read those kinds of books."

The vendor sat down next to Yan Heng, took out a book from his package, and showed it to Yan Heng a couple of pages.

"Look, this time it's not a banned book. I heard that this book is based on an author's personal experiences, illustrated by her."

"Yeah?"

Yan Heng took the book and flipped through a few pages. It was definitely not that kind of book. The vendor snatched the book away.

"Stop looking. I've already given you a few pages, that's already letting you have your cake and eat it too. Why are you still looking?"

How much does this book cost?

"Only twenty coins"

"Twenty coins? That's so cheap!"

"yes"

Yun Song was also puzzled.

"This book is indeed too cheap, young master, I'm afraid..."

The vendor interrupted Yun Song, fearing that he would ruin his business.

"Go away, what do you know? This is a good book I got from the black market. The owner said it could only be sold for twenty coins at most."

"Why? I won't buy it if you don't tell us."

The vendors spoke softly.

"Since you're a regular customer, I'll tell you why: these books were all given away for free."

"Then why are you still selling it to me for twenty coins?"

"Hey kid, should I get paid for running errands? What's wrong with me taking such a big risk to earn twenty coins?"

Yan Heng took money out of his purse and handed it to the vendor.

"Then I'll buy a copy and take a look."

"Thank you, sir/madam. Please come back to me next time you need books!"

Yan Heng took the sketchbook and flipped through it. Such a thick book for only twenty coins, it was indeed a bargain.

"Young master, it's best to avoid reading books obtained from the black market."

"There's no need for so many rules. Don't worry, those were banned books last time, and I burned them. I just glanced at them, and there's nothing inappropriate about them."

Yun Song couldn't persuade Yan Heng otherwise, so he could only nod.

That very night upon returning to the palace, Yan Heng sat at his desk and carefully examined the picture book.

It tells the story of a man of ill repute's life, described in great detail in the picture book. Such a beautiful face, yet he ended up with such a tragic fate.

Yan Heng read it while crying. When Yun Song came the next day, he only saw that Yan Heng's eyes were red and swollen.

"Phoenix, what's wrong with you?"

"Yun Song~ The man in this picture book is so pitiful."

Yun Song also picked up the sketchbook and flipped through a few pictures.

"Phoenix, this kind of situation is quite common. It's just that this man is so handsome that so many people sympathize with him."

"What are you saying? Does that mean no one would sympathize with an ordinary man who has gone through something like this?"

Yun Song sighed.

"Because this is how men are in this world, and this kind of thing happens every day, so we're not surprised."

"What?"

Yun Song's words shocked Yan Heng's worldview.

What do you mean by "happening every day"?

Yun Song smiled.

"The Phoenix doesn't need to know these things."

No! You must tell me.

Seeing that Yan Heng was so insistent, Yun Song had no choice but to tell him some things.

"There are at least 20,000 to 30,000 criminals in my country every year. Although the number of cases has decreased in recent years, it still exists."

"Why? Aren't they afraid of going to jail?"

"I don't know either. Maybe they're all hoping to get away with it. Maybe they think the man won't dare to report it for fear of damaging his reputation. Many men have chosen to commit suicide because of this kind of suffering. These bastards are just gambling, gambling that they can shift the blame onto the victim after doing something wrong."

When Yan Heng heard about this for the first time, he slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle. He didn't even notice the tea splashing onto his sleeves, and his voice suddenly rose in volume.

"Aren't these bastards afraid of our country's laws?!"

Yun Song's thoughts drifted back to the past.

"Does the Princess know why I entered the palace?"

"Why?"

“Because my father was raped back then, and because he reported it to the police, the whole village looked down on him. No one dared to hire him, my mother divorced him, and even abandoned me. My father had no choice but to beg for a living, but this couldn't go on forever, so I secretly went to the palace to help him with his salary every year. Life in the palace wasn't easy either. Some people knew my father had been raped and bullied me, beating and scolding me, knocking over my food, and ruining my clothes. They thought my father was promiscuous and that maybe he was raped because he was dressed too scantily. I got angry and argued with them with my fists, but they outnumbered me and I was beaten so badly I couldn't even stand up.”

Yun Song raised his head, looking at Yan Heng with hazy eyes.

"Luckily, I met Huang Zi."

Yan Heng also recalled the time when he met Yun Song when he was a child. At that time, Yan Heng and the Second Princess were playing in the palace when they found a servant hiding in a corner, barely alive. Yan Heng immediately ran over to him.

"Sister, it looks like he's been beaten up."

The second princess also squatted down and checked his breathing.

"He's not dead, there's still hope."

Yan Heng carried Yun Song to his room, and the Second Princess also summoned the imperial physician to examine Yun Song.

Yan Heng gently hugged Yun Song and wiped away the tears on his face.

"Yun Song, with me here, no one will dare to bully you anymore."

Yun Song also hugged Yan Heng, and the grievances he had accumulated over the years burst forth instantly, making him cry like a child.

"Thank you, Phoenix, but... but there are so many men in the world who have no one to protect them. They might all be looked down upon like my father."

Yan Heng pondered for a moment, then left the study.