Volume One: The Supervisor and the Candidate Chapter Fifteen: The Mature Son and the Young Father (Part One)

In truth, Huang Jin was not so young as he appeared. He had entered the palace in the first year of the Zhengde reign, when he was only ten years old. Now, sixteen years had passed, and he was twenty-six. Even so, among the ranks of favored eunuchs within the imperial palace, he was still considered youthful. But the current emperor was only fifteen, after all. As the personal eunuch who had always accompanied Zhu Houcong, it was only natural that Huang Jin could not be much older.

Following Huang Jin into the hall, Huang Ming had already made sense of everything and accepted the fact that he now had a young eunuch father. Not that he had any choice in the matter. Even if he did—if people of later generations were given the option, ninety-nine percent would recognize this uncle, only ten years their senior, as their father for the sake of such a vast family fortune.

Of course, Huang Ming had prepared himself thoroughly. Though Huang Jin appeared only a decade older than he, in truth, even if his real age surpassed thirty, the other would have more than enough qualifications to be his ancestor. After all, Huang Jin was five hundred years his senior.

Thus, when Huang Jin took his seat, Huang Ming respectfully stepped forward and paid his respects, “Son greets Father.”

“There’s no need for so many formalities between us,” Huang Jin said, still smiling warmly, motioning to the seat beside him. “Sit down and speak.”

Huang Ming nodded and sat at his side. “Father, you wished to speak with me?”

Huang Jin studied this son, whom he had not paid much attention to before. Huang Ming had never seemed so clever. Two months ago, when he arranged for Huang Ming to be brought here, the boy had seemed timid, even nervous when spoken to, his replies so soft as to be barely audible.

Although Huang Jin had only seen him a handful of times in these two months, the sudden change was remarkable.

“I hear you accomplished something significant this time?” Huang Jin adopted a stern tone, seeking to test him further and apply some pressure.

Huang Ming straightened a little, then met Huang Jin’s gaze. “I would not dare conceal anything from Father. Indeed, I encountered a major affair…” He proceeded to recount the events of the past few days in detail.

As Huang Ming laid out the causes and consequences, as well as his own thoughts at the time, Huang Jin’s expression grew more serious. If he’d doubted the reports that his son had distinguished himself in this tumult, now he was thoroughly convinced that Huang Ming had played a pivotal role in the case.

Yet this only deepened his curiosity. Unable to restrain himself, he asked, “When did you become so capable? Especially—when did you grow so bold?”

Huang Ming had anticipated this suspicion and had already prepared a response, particularly after seeing that Huang Jin was not so old. “Father, my former anxiety arose from my longstanding position and identity. But now, with Father to rely on, there is no reason to feel fear. Besides, I was falsely accused and, noticing various clues, I was able to help the authorities apprehend the culprit.”

Huang Jin’s expression changed slightly, and after a moment he nodded. “So that’s how it is. It seems you are indeed extraordinary—not unworthy of being my son!”

Regardless, this was a good thing for Huang Jin. With such a mature and capable son, he need not worry about trouble at home while he served in the palace, and he had a worthy successor.

At this, Huang Jin’s smile widened. “By the way, there’s something I still don’t understand regarding this matter. How did you determine that the White Lotus cultist was still hiding in the switched Tongzhou post station?”

Without such a deduction, Huang Ming would not have persuaded the Ministry of Justice and the Embroidered Guard to act so decisively.

Huang Ming pondered briefly before replying, “I wouldn’t dare boast, Father. In truth, I only deduced it from existing clues, with seventy or eighty percent certainty. The reason is simple—it lies in the prisoner rescue that was staged under everyone’s watch in the capital.”

“Hmm?”

“Father, consider it: if ordinary criminals had succeeded at the Tongzhou post station, swapping prisoners, why risk a greater crime in the capital? Wouldn’t that only increase their own danger?”

“Wasn’t it to rescue another accomplice?”

“I thought so too, and from the outcome, it makes sense—the substitute managed to escape because he wasn’t injured, and even the shackles were merely for show, letting him fool everyone.”

Huang Ming paused. “But, Father, have you considered the plan’s many uncertainties? If someone had checked carefully before the rescue, the scheme would have been exposed. The risk was enormous—not wise at all.”

Huang Jin finally understood. “So you believed they must have had a compelling reason?”

“Exactly. Any risk must offer proportionate reward. For the White Lotus cultists, ensuring the safety of Yan Feihu, their leader, was the greatest gain. It was clear he suffered torture after being captured, so keeping him safe wasn’t easy—especially in a crowded place like the Tongzhou post station, where any accident could have dire consequences.

“So I asked myself: if I were planning the rescue, what would I do? If the cultists were already at the post station, why not keep him there and bring in a trusted physician to treat his wounds until he recovered?

“But then another problem arises—how to prevent the court from suspecting the post station? If everyone witnessed the major criminal being rescued in the capital, then none would suspect the true origin at Tongzhou.

“Connecting these points, I guessed the fugitive was still at the post station, so I dared to persuade the authorities to investigate. And as it turned out, my deduction was correct.”

Listening to Huang Ming’s reasoning, watching his confident and thorough manner, Huang Jin’s admiration deepened. “Excellent. You truly unraveled the case without a single error. With such skill, I believe you could have a bright future in the Embroidered Guard, and I need not worry.”

These words struck Huang Ming: “Father, you also hope I’ll serve in the Embroidered Guard? Yesterday, Captain Liu even tried to recruit me…”

Huang Jin raised a hand to interrupt him. “I know, but this matter requires careful consideration…”