Volume Two: Gentlemen and Petty Men Chapter Sixty-Five: Misfortunes Never Come Singly Today

Only one day had passed, and Huang Ming was already filled with regret.

He regretted acting on impulse and telling his father about the assassination of Emperor Zhengde, only for his father to quickly report it to Emperor Jiajing.

The very next morning, just as Huang Ming had returned and was about to chat with his deeply grateful beloved, three men arrived together at his doorstep.

They were no strangers: Liu Botao, the Captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s Penal Division; Xu Xingzhi, another captain; and Huang Bingkun, a subordinate officer in charge of punishments.

All three wore solemn expressions, especially Huang Bingkun. Upon seeing Huang Ming, he exchanged glances that conveyed a mix of helplessness and a wronged plea.

Liu Botao then clarified their purpose: “Young Master Huang, the three of us have been ordered from above to assist you in investigating the case of the imperial physician Meng Chuyao.”

Huang Ming finally understood why Huang Bingkun had such conflicted emotions. He truly felt wronged and bewildered—he had painstakingly guarded this deadly secret, yet suddenly many within the Embroidered Uniform Guard already knew of it.

Huang Ming found it difficult to explain this to him alone, so he offered a reassuring look to calm him, then asked seriously, “Is this the palace’s directive?”

“Yes,” Liu Botao replied quickly, “the palace commands that from now on, we follow your lead completely and assist you in uncovering the truth behind this case. I have three hundred trustworthy men under me. Just say the word, and anything can be arranged.”

“That many won’t be necessary. Select the best fifty men to serve under me first,” Huang Ming ordered immediately.

Too many people would risk leaks, and this case involved far too much.

“Understood. I will select the men right away. Young Master Huang, do you have any other requirements?”

“Two conditions: they must be loyal and trustworthy, and their lips must be sealed tight.”

During their conversation, Huang Ming noticed that the two captains still seemed unaware of the true gravity of the case they were taking on, which explained their composed demeanor.

Since they would be investigating together, it was best to lay everything out clearly now, so they wouldn’t be caught off guard later and lose their footing.

“Let’s talk about the case itself. Do you know whom the imperial physician Meng killed?”

Both shook their heads. Xu Xingzhi finally ventured, “Could it be someone important?”

Huang Ming glanced toward the hall’s entrance, found no one there, then lowered his voice gravely: “It was Emperor Wuzong.”

The friendly smiles on their faces vanished instantly, replaced by shock.

“You… did you say what?” they exclaimed.

“Young Master Huang, don’t joke about this—it’s a matter of death,” one cautioned.

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Huang Ming retorted, then glanced at Huang Bingkun. “Besides, Captain Huang here knows the truth. You can ask him.”

They turned toward Huang Bingkun, who sat quietly at the side, his expression a strange mixture of laughter and tears. He nodded with difficulty.

“Everything Young Master Huang said is true,” he admitted.

Shaken, Xu Qingzhi jumped to his feet. “How could this be?”

Liu Botao shifted uneasily but forced himself to remain composed. “Is this really so?”

“It’s more than eighty percent true,” Huang Ming replied. “Because Meng Chuyao confessed personally and even wrote a signed confession.”

He paused, then continued, “The truth of this case has long been laid bare. Someone ordered Meng Chuyao to collaborate with Qi Yundao, then head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, to carry out the deed—and that mastermind is Yang Shen.”

“Yang Shen?” Xu Xingzhi exclaimed again, then hastily lowered his voice. “The son of Minister Yang, the Hanlin Academy compiler?”

“Exactly,” Huang Ming said calmly. “At least, that’s where the evidence points for now. However, this is only Meng Chuyao’s one-sided account. After confessing, he recanted, and no further evidence has been uncovered.”

“Our task is to start from him, find related clues and proof, and pin the guilt on him without doubt!”

Both captains fell silent.

Before coming, they never dreamed the case was so grave and perilous.

Any slip-up would cost not just the imperial physician’s life but theirs as well.

The identities involved were so high-ranking that even when the Embroidered Uniform Guard was stronger, they would have found it difficult—let alone now.

Liu Botao glanced at Huang Ming and then at Huang Bingkun, itching to ask how they had the courage to involve themselves in such a case.

Huang Ming and Huang Bingkun exchanged bitter smiles—they too felt wronged. Who would have known that a simple investigation the night before would uncover such a secret?

After a long moment, Liu Botao finally regained composure and whispered, “Young Master Huang, have you decided how to proceed? Will you start with Meng Chuyao or target someone else?”

Having pondered this since their arrival, Huang Ming sighed, “At the moment, only from him. He is currently held at one of your Embroidered Uniform Guard’s secret outposts outside the city. Using some methods to interrogate him might yield results.”

The two captains exchanged a look and nodded in agreement.

Indeed, this was the most reliable approach for now, and with the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s interrogation techniques, even a frail imperial physician would likely reveal everything.

Still, they found the matter thorny, and Liu Botao was filled with regret.

Even if they uncovered the truth, the ensuing troubles would be immense—far beyond what their small frames could bear.

What troubled him most was that he had volunteered for this task himself, hoping to make an impression on the emperor.

Huang Ming regretted it too, but he knew there was no remedy for regret in this world.

Since it had come to this, there was no turning back. They must press forward.

“Then,” Huang Ming said, “quickly select your fifty men. Before the city gates close today, let us leave Beijing and first extract clues from Meng Chuyao’s mouth before planning the next steps. How does that sound?”

“Agreed,” the two said without hesitation. They rose immediately to take their leave.

At that moment, Huang Zhong hurried in and, just as he reached the hall, began, “Young Master, Young Master Zhang came quickly with urgent news—”

Before he could finish, Zhang Han strode in rapidly. Seeing Huang Ming, he ignored the others nearby and urgently said, “Young Master Huang, save us! Young Master Xu and the Xu family’s Second Miss were attacked outside the city and kidnapped by bandits. They left this note for you…”

Huang Ming was stunned. How could there be trouble at his side again? And why, if Xu Qingzhi was kidnapped, did the kidnappers not seek his family but come to him?

Beside him, Xu Xingzhi was already desperate. He stepped forward, snatched the letter from Zhang Han’s hand, grasped his shoulder, and demanded, “Is this true? Were Qingzhi and Yunzhi really kidnapped?”