Volume One: The Inspector and the Examinee Chapter Thirty-One: When the Moment Arrives, One Must Be Bold (Part One)

Zhang Bi had warned Huang Ming out of goodwill, but in truth, his warning changed little.

Because that very night, Huang Jin returned home with even more detailed news.

“Father, why have you come back?” Huang Ming was quite surprised to see him.

After all, Huang Jin had said before that the Jiajing Emperor could hardly spare him; even one day off a month was a great favor, and it hadn’t even been half a month since he last came home.

Sitting in his usual place, the eunuch Huang wore a somber, worried expression—none of his usual affable smile remained. His eyes fixed on the adopted son before him, he spoke in a low voice, “With the trouble you’ve caused, how could I not leave the palace to see you?”

Huang Ming immediately understood. “Is it because the men of the Marquis of Jianchang, along with other officials, have jointly impeached the palace eunuchs?”

“So you know how serious this has become?” Huang Jin slapped the desk. “You’ve barely arrived at the Imperial Academy and already brought such a disaster upon us!

“If I’d known you were so reckless, I’d never have brought you to the capital!”

Despite his father’s harsh words, Huang Ming did not panic. He quickly forced a smile and said, “Please, Father, don’t be angry just yet—let your son explain, or rather, defend himself…”

“Hmph, what explanation could you possibly have? This time you’ve truly implicated me. Though His Majesty has not distanced himself from me over this, and even kept the memorials in his study to show support, what about afterward…” He sighed deeply, the sound full of helplessness and confusion.

Huang Ming seized the moment. “I understand what worries you, Father, but in my view, this isn’t entirely a bad thing—and it’s far from an impossible situation.”

Seeing that Huang Jin’s expression remained stern, Huang Ming pressed on. “I’m not just trying to shirk responsibility—these are the facts. Even without this incident, aren’t all the officials at court already regarding you and the other eunuchs as villains disrupting the governance of the realm?

“This episode merely gave them an excuse to submit memorials of impeachment.”

Huang Jin, trained in the Inner Library and possessed of some political sensitivity, immediately saw the sense in these words, and his expression softened a little.

Huang Ming continued, “Moreover, I believe their attack this time, targeting you—a trusted confidant at the emperor’s side—actually works in your favor.”

“How so?” Huang Jin finally asked.

He was only twenty-six, far from the unflappable and inscrutable figure he would later become.

“There are two advantages. First, this move will displease His Majesty. Had they only attacked the eunuchs from the previous reign, the emperor might have made concessions to placate the ministers. But you have served at his side since he was the heir apparent, as have other eunuchs who came from the prince’s household. If they are implicated as well, what do you think the emperor will feel?”

Huang Jin’s eyes flickered as realization dawned.

Indeed, wasn’t this tantamount to slapping the emperor in the face? And knowing Jiajing as he did—though still young, he was far from indecisive. Had he not, upon his accession, stubbornly insisted on entering through a particular palace gate, standing firm against Yang Tinghe and the other ministers, and ultimately prevailing?

He even suspected that the emperor’s recent compromises were merely temporary tactics, to be repaid in full at a later time.

Now, while these officials seemed to be attacking the eunuchs, in reality, their aim was clearly the emperor himself.

After a moment’s thought, Huang Jin’s earlier anger vanished entirely. He asked, “And the second advantage?”

Huang Ming relaxed, a smile forming on his lips. “The second is that, in truth, I am in the right.”

“You had the Embroidered Guards beat men from the Marquis of Jianchang’s household and claim you were justified?” Huang Jin was so exasperated he almost laughed.

“I most certainly am in the right…” Huang Ming recounted the entire incident, leaving nothing out.

He concluded, “My attack on Zhang Pan was both self-defense and righteous indignation. If it comes down to it, it’s no more than a scuffle among youths, hardly worth mentioning.

“It’s the Marquis of Jianchang’s household that’s at fault—they’re used to throwing their weight around. Yet over this, they stirred up a commotion, sent men to barge into the Imperial Academy, and happened to run into the Embroidered Guards, who stepped in as was their duty and subdued them all.

“Even if this case goes to the Three Judicial Offices, or before the Emperor himself, I am in the right. Surely they won’t invert black and white just because those men were beaten?”

Huang Jin looked at his son with a strange expression. What sort of prodigy had he raised, to speak so brazenly and self-assured about such matters?

But upon reflection, it did make sense. “And the memorials accusing you of overstepping your authority by commanding the Embroidered Guards?”

“That’s pure fabrication, invented by the Marquis’s men for revenge. They have no real evidence. The Embroidered Guards won’t corroborate it, and no one at the Imperial Academy will testify for them either.”

Huang Ming smiled even more broadly. “So you see, Father, this is nothing but slander, seized upon by those with ulterior motives.

“As long as you report the facts truthfully to His Majesty, with his intelligence and discernment, how could he possibly be deceived?”

Huang Jin gazed at his son, at a loss for words.

After a long moment, he finally said, “You truly… you’ve thought of everything… With your abilities, the court loses much if you stay out of officialdom—but if you enter…”

Whatever his feelings, Huang Jin was finally reassured. This incident should not affect him.

As for the ministers’ attacks on the other eunuchs, there was nothing he could do for now; they would have to fend for themselves.

Just as he was about to instruct his son on the need to keep a low profile in the coming days, the steward Huang Zhong appeared at the study door. “Master, a Master Gu and Master Zhang are asking to see you outside.”

He handed over two calling cards as he spoke.

At the mention of these surnames, Huang Jin’s brow furrowed. After reading the cards, his expression grew graver. He murmured, “How quickly they’ve heard—”

Huang Ming’s heart skipped as he peered at the cards. Indeed, the names were there: Gu Dayong and Zhang Yong.

Both had once been formidable chief eunuchs in the reign of the late Emperor Wuzong, able to rival even Grand Chamberlain Liu Jin—the very same Liu who would later be known as “the Emperor-maker.”

But now, their situation was dire, for the ministers’ campaign was aimed directly at them.

Huang Jin quickly made up his mind. “Tell them I have already retired for the night…” In the current circumstances, it would be best not to engage with them.

But Huang Ming interjected, “Wait, Father. I think it would be wise to meet with them.”