Volume Two: Adults and Children Chapter Eighty-Seven: Marriage Ties (Part Two)

Having ascended the throne for a full year, the Jiajing Emperor was still remarkably diligent in governing.

After resting through the afternoon, he resumed tackling state affairs. He either granted audiences to key court ministers such as Xu Guangzu, the Duke of Dingguo, or reviewed various memorials submitted to the palace by the Office of Transmission and the Grand Secretariat, leaving himself scarcely a moment of leisure.

It was not until dusk that he finally set down his brush and stretched lazily. "Huang Jin."

Yet, at this call, Huang Jin did not respond instantly as he always did on previous occasions, nor did he promptly deliver what his master desired.

This caused Jiajing to frown slightly and call out again, "Huang Jin!"

"This slave is here. What are the master's commands?" Only then did Huang Jin snap back to his senses, steady his composure, and hurriedly step forward respectfully.

"Have someone bring some food in. I'm hungry." Jiajing said, then glanced at him. "You have something on your mind?"

After hesitating for just a brief moment, Huang Jin dropped heavily to his knees before Jiajing. "Pardon my transgression, Master. This slave is indeed troubled by a difficult dilemma..."

"Oh? What is it? Is it about you... about your son, Huang Ming?"

"No wisdom surpasses that of the master."

"Tell me about it. Let me help you ponder it."

Stealing a glance at Jiajing, Huang Jin finally made up his mind. Instead of rushing to speak of the matter, he turned and went out to have food brought in. While attending to Jiajing as he ate, he softly laid out the intentions Xu Guangzu had expressed earlier.

Listening to this, a meaningful smile played across Jiajing's lips. "The Duke of Dingguo thinks quite highly of you and Huang Ming."

"This slave is terrified. All of this is entirely bestowed by the master..."

"There is no need to be terrified. I have witnessed Huang Ming's capabilities with my own eyes, and he has helped me quite a bit as well. And this recent case... By the way, that Xu Yunzhi is one of the Xu family siblings who were kidnapped previously, isn't she?"

"The master is quite right."

"Have they actually broken away from the Duke of Dingguo's lineage long ago?"

"They can only be considered distant collateral relatives, but Xu Yunzhi has frequently interacted with the Duke of Dingguo in daily life, and I heard the Duke is quite fond of her." Huang Jin did not hold back the least bit, reporting everything he knew truthfully.

"No wonder." Jiajing smiled. "If even someone from the Duke of Dingguo's estate could be kidnapped by bandits in the capital, wouldn't the entire realm be thrown into complete chaos?"

"As for this Xu Yunzhi, since she can win the favor of the Duke of Dingguo, she must certainly be exceptional. She is indeed a match for Huang Ming."

Saying this, he glanced at Huang Jin again. Noticing the other man's tangled expression of anxiety and hesitation, he asked once more, "Do you have any reservations?"

"This slave dares not conceal anything from the master, but given my status, alongside the status of the Duke of Dingguo... for families like ours to form a matrimonial alliance through marriage is ultimately somewhat improper."

This was the very crux of what had been troubling Huang Jin for so long.

He was a palace eunuch, whereas Xu Guangzu not only held the noble title of a Duke but also commanded the elite capital garrisons. A marital alliance between the two would naturally invite suspicions of collusion between forces inside and outside the palace.

"Hahaha... You are worrying excessively. Didn't you just say that Xu Yunzhi is a distant collateral relative of the Duke of Dingguo's household? Why would anyone make an issue of such a relationship?

"If we were to argue along those lines, the marriage ties woven among the officials in the court would be far more taboo.

"Huang Jin, you are good in every other way, but your courage is still a bit too small. Such a trivial matter has actually left you restless and unable to sleep. If I entrust you with more important tasks in the future, how will you handle them?"

"The master speaks the truth; it is this slave who lacks competence. But this slave only wishes to spend a lifetime dedicated solely to serving the master, and never thinks of other matters."

"Hahaha, I know your loyalty. Very well, since there is such a joyous occasion, I will grant you a full day's leave today. You are permitted to leave the palace and need only return before the palace gates close tomorrow." Jiajing waved his hand with considerable magnanimity.

"This slave kowtows and thanks the master for his boundless grace." Huang Jin hurriedly knelt and knocked his head on the floor again before slowly backing out.

Just as he reached the door, he heard Jiajing say, "With Huang Ming's great joy this time, I would even like to go drink a cup of wedding wine, though that seems impossible. However, the congratulatory gift shall be granted...

"Here is what you will do: tell him that the contents of the paper I gave him that day will serve as his congratulatory gift this time. As for his other merits, I shall reward him gradually once he officially enters the court as an official."

"This slave kowtows on behalf of Huang Ming to thank the master for his boundless grace." Huang Jin knelt once more, kowtowing heavily three times, before departing in high spirits.

Back inside the hall, the other eunuchs and attendants, though silent and maintaining placid expressions, were consumed by boundless envy in their hearts.

***

When father and son met again this time, it was finally not because one of them had been caught staying out all night.

Yet, upon learning such monumental news from his father's mouth, Huang Ming was still profoundly startled.

What on earth was this?

Without his knowledge whatsoever, his marriage had already been settled by others!

Wasn't this feudal arranged marriage a bit too uninhibited?

"What? Do you not wish to accept this match?" Seeing his son's furrowed brows, Huang Jin asked curiously, "I heard previously that you studied alongside Miss Xu and got along quite well."

"It's not that I have any objections to her; Miss Xu's appearance is quite fine, her temperament is gentle, and she is moreover intelligent, but..." Huang Ming didn't know how to put it for a moment, and after a while, he generalized, "Yet I neither know her well nor feel anything for her."

"Feelings?" Huang Jin blinked. Let alone being a eunuch, even an ordinary man in this era could not possibly comprehend the meaning of those two words.

Unable to offer a more precise explanation, Huang Ming could only say, "It means I've only spent a few days in her company. Aside from the content of our books, we've had almost no interaction, so naturally, emotionally..."

"Hmph, men and women must be kept apart. What woman from a good family would have excessive contact with a man before their engagement? You are already far better off than most—at least you have met Miss Xu and have a slight understanding of her character.

"Matrimonial matters are predestined by heaven; they rely entirely on the commands of parents and the words of matchmakers. How could you afford to be so picky? Do you think you're selecting a courtesan in a pleasure quarter?"

At this moment, Huang Jin assumed the stern demeanor of a father and spoke with solemn gravity, "Even the Emperor himself has given his approval and looks favorably upon this. Furthermore, it does not impede your career prospects, and you get to forge a connection with the Duke of Dingguo's estate. Is there any match better than this?"

Having recovered his wits, Huang Ming gave a bitter smile. He had indeed been foolish just now.

This wasn't centuries later, where freedom of romance was championed; weren't marriages across the world currently all conducted this way?

Besides, he was already considered fortunate. At least he had met Xu Yunzhi and had some understanding of her; she would undoubtedly make a qualified wife and mother.

"Do you perhaps have other reservations? For instance, do you have another lover in mind? Or is it because she was once abducted by bandits?" Huang Jin pressed further.

"None!" Huang Ming immediately shook his head. "I witnessed the whole affair of Miss Xu's kidnapping from beginning to end, so naturally, I understand that her innocence is untarnished."

"Then the matter is settled. In a few days, I will take you to present the betrothal gifts." Huang Jin struck the table, making the final decision.

"Father, isn't it a bit too early? I am only seventeen."

"You aren't getting married immediately. We are merely settling the engagement first. In two or three years, when you reach adulthood and have achieved some standing, you can marry her then." On this point, Huang Jin proved to be quite open-minded.