Volume

As evening approached, darkness was already settling in.

Within the inner sanctum of the imperial palace, deep inside the Forbidden City, Huang Jin—one of the most trusted personal eunuchs serving the Jiajing Emperor—finally found a moment for himself, after a day of endless toil. Having attended to the emperor’s evening meal, he could at last return to his modest quarters for a night’s rest.

Though outside the palace he owned a grand estate that would defy the imagination of ordinary folk, within these walls, his accommodations were but a cramped, narrow room, no different from anyone else’s.

As Huang Jin approached his lodgings, accompanied by two young eunuchs, a large, rotund eunuch in scarlet robes came forward with a broad smile, greeting him first: “Eunuch Huang, you’ve worked hard.”

“So it’s Eunuch Gu,” Huang Jin replied with a quick, flattering smile, hastening forward to greet him. “Serving our master is hardly a hardship.” He bowed respectfully to Gu Dayong, who enjoyed a position of much higher status.

The two young eunuchs who had escorted Huang Jin knew better than to linger; without needing a word, they withdrew, leaving the space for the two senior figures.

For now, at least, Gu Dayong’s rank far surpassed Huang Jin’s. He had been one of the most trusted and valued chief eunuchs under the previous emperor, the Zhengde Emperor, second only to the infamous Liu Jin in power and influence. Even now, Gu Dayong still held considerable authority, bearing titles such as Chief Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial and Supervisor of the Western Depot—positions that commanded immense sway in the palace’s shadowy world. The network of power and contacts he had cultivated over the years within the secret police far outstripped anything Huang Jin, recently returned to the capital after only a few months, could hope to match.

Yet Gu Dayong’s glory was already fading into the past. A new emperor now reigned, and the palace was undergoing a sweeping purge. As one of the notorious “Eight Tigers” so often condemned by the literati, Gu Dayong’s prospects were bleak.

Thus, from the very beginning, he had been eager to curry favor with those trusted by the new emperor, like Huang Jin. He had even bestowed one of his own lavish residences upon Huang Jin, and behaved with a warmth and humility far removed from the arrogance of a former superior.

“You’re right, Eunuch Huang,” Gu Dayong chuckled. “Age loosens the tongue—please don’t take offense.”

Then, stepping forward, he clasped his hands and smiled. “I’ve come today to offer my congratulations. You have a fine son.”

Huang Jin, about to ask what occasion warranted such congratulations, was taken aback by the latter part of the sentence. “Eunuch Gu, I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“Isn’t Huang Ming your son?” Gu Dayong said openly.

“Yes, he is the orphaned son of my late elder brother. Out of pity, I adopted him as my own—after all, he is the closest of kin. But he’s only sixteen, and has never had much schooling. What great things could he possibly accomplish?”

Gu Dayong watched Huang Jin’s expression closely, finally convinced he was speaking the truth, and was somewhat surprised himself. “It happened just between yesterday and today. You’ve been at the emperor’s side, so perhaps you haven’t heard—there’s been quite a commotion in the capital…”

He recounted how Huang Ming had been caught up in a prisoner rescue case, first seized by the South City Constabulary, then transferred to the Office of the Arresting Officers, and finally unmasked the true culprit before officials from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Ministry of Justice.

As Gu Dayong spoke, Huang Jin’s expression grew increasingly peculiar.

Was this the son he thought he knew?

In his eyes, Huang Ming was merely an orphan who’d lost his parents young—hardly someone from whom he expected much. He had adopted Huang Ming not only out of familial affection, but also because, as a eunuch, he could leave no descendants, and so chose his closest nephew to carry on the family name. He’d never expected the boy to amount to anything, nor hoped for him to bring glory to the family—only that he would stay out of trouble and live quietly.

Who could have imagined that he would achieve something like this?

Huang Jin stood frozen for a long while before forcing a smile. “Surely it’s just a child’s mischief, nothing worthy of congratulations from you, Eunuch Gu.”

“This was no mere mischief—it was a real service to the court, a great help to both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Ministry of Justice,” Gu Dayong replied with a laugh, full of praise. “You have no idea, Eunuch Huang—your son’s actions have won him high acclaim on both sides. Especially Liu Botao, the Chief Executor of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who is so impressed that he wants to recruit your son into the Office of the Arresting Officers for proper training.”

“Is that so?” Huang Jin was now genuinely delighted.

If at first he’d suspected Gu Dayong was exaggerating Huang Ming’s achievements just to please him, it now seemed that the boy truly had rendered a great service.

If that were the case, then his background would no longer be an obstacle.

With Huang Jin’s current status, securing a position for his son in the Embroidered Uniform Guard would have been difficult, but now they were seeking him out.

“What do you think, Eunuch Huang? If you agree, I can have someone arrange everything at the Office of the Arresting Officers in the next few days, and your son will be assured of a fine position in the Embroidered Uniform Guard,” Gu Dayong urged, striking while the iron was hot.

Huang Jin almost nodded instinctively, but a thought flashed in his mind and he replied, “I’m grateful for your kindness, Eunuch Gu, but this is a significant matter—I cannot decide on a whim.

“How about this: tomorrow, if I’m permitted to leave the palace, I’ll go home and discuss it with Huang Ming, and give you an answer then. Would that suffice?”

His hesitation stemmed from concerns about Gu Dayong’s current state.

Serving at the emperor’s side, he was privy to the swiftest news—such as the fact that the court officials were now preparing to target those in the palace who had been favored under the late emperor, especially those with notorious reputations, like Gu Dayong and Zhang Yong, the “Eight Tigers.”

Huang Jin had witnessed the fate of such former favorites as Jiang Bin and Qian Ning—how could Gu Dayong expect anything better?

He had survived for decades at the Jiajing Emperor’s side, enjoying trust and favor, not by mere loyalty alone, but by understanding all too well what Gu Dayong truly wanted in currying his favor: a way to seek the emperor’s protection. But such things were not so easily obtained.

Thus, without offending Gu Dayong, Huang Jin dared not draw too close, lest he too become a target for the increasingly powerful officials who bore grudges against the old guard.

He could not afford to be implicated—nor could his son. The matter would require careful thought.

Seeing that Huang Jin did not accept immediately, Gu Dayong made no effort to press him, exchanging a few more words before taking his leave.

After sending off Gu Dayong, Huang Jin sat in his room, momentarily lost in thought—eager now, indeed, to see his son, who seemed so changed.