Volume Two: Great Men and Petty Men, Chapter Sixty-One: The Number One Gambler Under Heaven (Part I)

With the greatest secret he had long hidden in his heart finally laid bare, Meng Chuyao felt as if a crushing burden had been lifted, leaving him suddenly at ease. A faint smile even played upon his lips, and his mind felt clearer than ever before. "It seems now that his words were correct. The current Emperor is sagacious and benevolent. In just one year on the throne, he has already rectified the chaos in the imperial court, purged the treacherous sycophants, and brought a newfound clarity to the state of the nation.

"Although I, like my mentor, have long harbored deep misgivings about the regicide of the late Emperor, I have never truly regretted it. My mentor paid for his sins with his life over half a year ago, and I have often considered following him, yet a lingering attachment to this world has left me living in even greater misery."

Huang Ming sensed the meaning behind his words. He noticed that Meng did not perceive that person as having used him; there was not a shred of resentment, so much so that even now, he still wished to shield the man’s identity. However, one could also detect a profound hesitation in his speech—if he were truly willing to sacrifice everything to protect that man, he would have erased the very existence of such a person rather than deliberately mentioning his presence.

Huang Bingkun, finally recovering from his utter shock, his face twisted in fury, suddenly stepped forward two paces and hissed, "Tell me, who exactly is that man? Do not think you can hold out against the Imperial Guard; I have hundreds of ways to pry your mouth open..."

"Death is the only true hardship in this world. Since I have already confessed the truth, I never intended to remain alive. No matter how formidable your Imperial Guard may be, can you make a dead man speak?" Meng Chuyao’s demeanor had completely shifted. He looked at the murderous Huang Bingkun with a wry, detached smile and countered with a question.

This left the Centurion stunned; though his rage intensified, he found himself helpless. He could only look instinctively toward Huang Ming, hoping the young master could break this stalemate. Through their time together, his attitude toward Huang Ming had evolved from sycophancy to admiration, and now, to blind reliance. In his heart, any problem in this world could be resolved once it reached Huang Ming’s hands.

And indeed, Huang Ming spoke up: "Do you truly believe that everything you have done was for the benefit of the nation and the people? Or were you merely used, allowing that man and those behind him to reap the greatest rewards?"

Without waiting for a reply, Huang Ming continued, "You describe the Emperor Wuzong as if he were utterly useless, but I must ask: during his reign, how many of the major state policies were actually determined by him, the sovereign, and how many were dictated by the ministers of the Cabinet and the Six Ministries?

"Were the many rebellions you speak of truly caused by the perverse actions of Emperor Wuzong, or were they sparked by the insatiable greed of those who actually held power in the court? And during the time the current Emperor has been on the throne, has the life of the common people truly become easier?

"Has the number of people forced to sell themselves into slavery after their lands were seized actually decreased? Or is it merely that you so-called scholars have now gained a greater voice, and are simply framing your own gains as the interests of the common people?"

These words caused the complexion of the imperial physician to shift once more. He opened his mouth to argue, but did not know where to begin.

Huang Ming pressed on: "By the way, you are not even a true official. Of the power and benefits they have gained, what portion has ever truly trickled down to you? Your mentor, Qi Yun-dao, was deceived by them into committing the act of regicide—a grave error for which he paid with his life. But was his death enough to redeem such a heinous crime?

"Look at today; it is clearly far from enough. Otherwise, you would not have spent these days in such panic, nor would you have ended up being blackmailed by a mere menial servant, only to be captured by us in such terror!

"Reflect upon this. What do you call this? This is doing the dirty work for others, bearing an eternal infamy, and sacrificing your entire family for a monumental mistake. It is laughable that you still think you were acting for the country and the people, believing your actions were righteous, even as you seek to protect the true villain of the land."

Meng Chuyao’s expression changed again—hesitant, conflicted, yet still wanting to cling to his ideals. He gritted his teeth and finally said, "Do not think you can use such nonsensical rhetoric to disturb my resolve..."

"Are these not facts? Were you not used by them? Perhaps even Qi Yun-dao’s death was a silencing by their own hands! You continue to drown in your own delusions... when the day comes that they turn against you, it will truly be too late for regrets!"

After this provocative strike at his heart, Huang Ming did not give him time to dwell, continuing his high-pressure interrogation: "Even if you do not say it, I can roughly guess who the person using you is! In folk justice, there is a simple rule: to find the murderer, look at who benefits most from the death. That is likely the culprit.

"Take the case of the late Emperor Wuzong. Who benefited the most? Naturally, it is not the current Emperor, but the so-called pillars of the nation who held real power in the court—those who would not be controlled by Wuzong. For instance, the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Yang Tinghe!"

As he spoke, Huang Ming’s eyes remained fixed on the other man’s face. Sure enough, Meng Chuyao’s face twitched at the mention.

"It is him, isn't it? It was Yang Tinghe who, in order to seize absolute power, disregarded all consequences, the justice of the world, and the rites between sovereign and subject, committing the act of regicide!"

The physician’s face turned deathly pale. His gaze darted to the equally shocked Huang Bingkun, and he cried out, "No, it is not Grand Secretary Yang! He was completely kept in the dark... As the Emperor’s former mentor and the Chief Minister of the realm, he could never have committed such an act..."

"Then who? Besides him, I cannot think of a more fitting candidate for the murderer." Huang Ming seized the opportunity, pressing in step by step. "You need not hide it for him anymore. It is him, no doubt!"

"It was Yang Shen... it was the son of Grand Secretary Yang, Yang Shen..." In his panic, Meng Chuyao could no longer guard the secret and blurted out the name.

Huang Ming’s expression tightened, and he let out a long breath. "So it was him?"

At the same time, he made a quick judgment: this choice and answer were logical. Compared to his suspicion of Yang Tinghe, Yang Shen acting with such recklessness made far more sense. Yang Tinghe was a seasoned statesman, always cautious and prudent; even if he were dissatisfied or disappointed by Zhengde’s years of antics, he would not have committed such an act with endless repercussions.

But Yang Shen was different. He was young and impetuous, acting with far less regard for consequences. Moreover, by doing so, he stood to gain the most—his father would secure absolute power, and as the eldest son, he would naturally reap a vast harvest of benefits. Most importantly, upon reflection, Yang Shen was indeed a born gambler.