Volume Two: The Noble and the Ignoble Chapter Sixty-Four: A Twist of Fate

At dusk, Huang Jin returned to the palace.

Originally, the Jiajing Emperor had granted him a two-day leave, and he was not required to return until the following night. However, after learning of that earth-shattering secret, Huang Jin could not remain away for a single moment and decided to return immediately. Throughout the journey, his mind was in turmoil, fraught with anxiety and confusion. He could not even recall how he had entered the palace or made his way to the Qianqing Palace, where the Emperor resided.

As he reached the brightly lit palace gates, he heard a familiar voice: "Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Yang has sent over some pastries. I hear they are excellent for cooling the body and relieving the summer heat, brought all the way from his hometown in Sichuan. Would you like to try one?"

Huang Jin snapped back to reality. He saw the eunuch Li Fang smiling as he presented a small plate of pastries to the desk where the Jiajing Emperor sat. The Emperor, busy reviewing memorials, simply grunted in acknowledgment. Without looking closely, he reached for a pastry, ready to take a bite.

A wave of sheer terror washed over Huang Jin.

Food—and it was sent by Grand Secretary Yang! Recalling what his son had told him about the true cause of the Zhengde Emperor’s death, how could he not be frantic? Without a second thought or a moment’s hesitation, Huang Jin shouted, "Your Majesty, wait!"

Ignoring protocol, he lunged forward like a madman. In two strides, he dashed to the desk and snatched the pastry from the stunned Emperor’s hand.

At that moment, the twenty-odd eunuchs inside and outside the Qianqing Palace, along with the young Emperor himself, stared at him in utter shock. A deathly silence fell over the room. Huang Jin finally realized what he had done; his legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees. "Your Majesty, forgive my offense! Please, let this servant taste it for you first!"

As if afraid someone would snatch it back, he shoved the pastry into his mouth. He barely chewed, swallowing it in a few gulps until he nearly choked, his eyes rolling back in his head.

Only then did Li Fang react. His face paled, and he shouted, "Audacious Huang Jin! Are you trying to deceive the Emperor? Guards, seize this scoundrel!"

Before he could finish, the Jiajing Emperor spoke in a calm voice: "Stop! Everyone, leave. If word of today’s events leaks out, everyone will be put to death!"

The authority of the monarch silenced the room. The eunuchs, terrified, knelt and swore they had seen nothing before retreating in haste. Li Fang, the Emperor’s personal confidant, lingered for a moment, but under the weight of the Emperor’s gaze, he too bowed and exited on tiptoe.

The Qianqing Palace was left with only the Jiajing Emperor and Huang Jin. The atmosphere grew increasingly heavy. Huang Jin remained prostrate on the floor, motionless, as if awaiting his sentence.

"Raise your head and look at me," the Jiajing Emperor said softly.

Huang Jin lifted his head, his eyes filled with unease. "Your Majesty..."

"You returned early and acted so erratically. Did you learn something while you were outside?"

As one of the most brilliant emperors in thousands of years, the Jiajing Emperor, though young, could see through many things at a glance. Huang Jin’s bold and reckless behavior could not have been madness; it was clearly a desperate act born of concern for his master’s safety.

"Your Majesty, I have offended the imperial dignity. I am ready to die..." Huang Jin felt the pastry settle in his stomach and, finding no ill effects, felt a sense of relief. He realized he had been overly suspicious. His son had said that Yang Shen was the mastermind behind the late Emperor Wuzong’s death and that Grand Secretary Yang was unaware of it. Furthermore, even if the Grand Secretary were involved, he would never be so brazen as to send poisoned food directly to the Emperor, inviting suspicion. Moreover, the pastries had passed through multiple layers of inspection before reaching the Emperor; if they were truly tainted, they never would have made it to the desk. He had simply been overwhelmed by his own agitation.

"Tell the truth. Are you trying to deceive me?" The Emperor’s face darkened as he stared at the eunuch who had grown up alongside him.

"Your Majesty, this matter..."

Seeing him hesitate, the Emperor grew truly angry and slammed his hand on the desk. "Speak!"

"Yes, this servant will speak. I only beg Your Majesty not to be moved to anger, nor to make any decisions you might regret."

Huang Jin composed himself and, remaining on his knees, recounted the truth about the death of the Zhengde Emperor as told to him by Huang Ming.

Silence.

There was no panic or rage as he had expected. After hearing everything, the Jiajing Emperor remained unexpectedly calm. He sat quietly, which only added to Huang Jin’s unease. "Your Majesty, you..."

"I am fine. This matter is grave, but it is not enough to frighten me." The Jiajing Emperor let out a slow breath. "You, on the other hand, must have been terrified. To return and act so recklessly..."

"This servant is guilty. Please punish me, Your Majesty. I have no complaints."

"You were acting out of loyalty to protect me. Why should I punish you?" The Emperor smiled, his tone softening, even changing his address. "Get up. Since you seem to like those pastries, you may have the rest."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"So you believe this is true? That Huang Ming is not spreading rumors or being deceived?"

"This servant cannot say for certain it is the absolute truth, but based on what I know of him, he would not have told me this unless he was certain."

"In that case, it is highly likely true. My imperial brother was indeed murdered!" The Emperor’s eyes flickered, his true thoughts unreadable.

Huang Jin tried to speak, but the Emperor raised a hand to silence him. "However, I am not my brother. Now that I know this, and with you by my side, I shall remain safe. We shall both pretend we know nothing of this for now and see what else Huang Ming can uncover. For such a massive case, the testimony of a servant and a physician is far from enough. I will have the Embroidered Uniform Guard secretly follow his orders to gather more evidence."

Clearly, the clever Jiajing Emperor saw in this an opportunity—a chance to seize control of the imperial government. The pressure he had been under from the court officials led by Yang Tinghe was immense, and he dreamed of turning the tables. Now, that opportunity seemed within reach.

Huang Jin sensed his master’s intent and began to worry for his son. The stakes were too high; one wrong step would mean total destruction. He did not want his son to take such risks. But seeing that the Emperor had made up his mind, Huang Jin opened his mouth to speak but eventually accepted the reality.

Who was to blame but himself for his panic, which had led him to spill this lethal secret so carelessly?