Volume One: The Overseer and the Scholar Chapter Thirty: When Joy Reaches Its Peak, Sorrow Follows; Fortune and Misfortune Are Bound Together

Huang Ming’s heartfelt words caused quite a stir, both among the students and the lecturers. Whether the Imperial Academy would change as a result remained to be seen, but at least, for the remainder of the day, the atmosphere in the Xuan Hall was transformed. No longer did the students chatter incessantly during class; some even began to listen attentively for the first time.

Huang Ming, of course, was among them. Though the material—full of convoluted, archaic turns of phrase—was so dense and tedious that he struggled to stay awake, he still forced himself to listen and reflect carefully.

Fortunately, not every lecturer merely recited the text in a monotonous drone, lulling everyone to sleep. Especially now, with the marked improvement in classroom order, some lecturers grew more enthusiastic and made their lessons far more engaging.

In particular, there was Mr. Zhang Bi, who was teaching the Xuan Hall students for the first time. As the instructor of history, he brought the chronicles of the Later Han Dynasty to life, explaining complex events in a lucid and captivating manner, keeping nearly all the students enthralled.

For the first time, the students discovered that these supposedly dry lessons actually had much to offer. Even when the class was over, many were reluctant to leave, wishing Mr. Zhang would continue a little longer—something that had never happened before.

After packing up, Zhang Bi did not leave immediately. Casting a glance at Huang Ming, who was chatting with a few classmates, he said, “Huang Ming, come with me.”

Under the eyes of the others, Huang Ming agreed and stepped forward, automatically picking up the stack of books Mr. Zhang had arranged. “Let me escort you back, sir.”

Zhang Bi looked at this recent celebrity of the academy with a hint of surprise, but made no comment. Nodding, he led Huang Ming out of the Xuan Hall.

After walking some distance, out of sight and earshot of others, Zhang Bi finally stopped, lowered his voice, and asked, “Were those words truly your own thoughts?”

“Yes, sir. They were spoken from my heart,” Huang Ming replied without hesitation.

“What led you to such insight?”

“I reflected on my own situation. People like us may appear carefree and privileged, but that's only skin-deep. As for our futures, there is nothing certain at all.

“Perhaps we are still young, and our elders can still provide for us, so we have yet to taste the bitterness of the world. But if things change, don’t you think, sir, that we so-called academy scholars will find it hard even to support ourselves?”

Zhang Bi glanced back, unable to hide his admiration. “Those who lack foresight are sure to suffer immediate worries. Your perspective is indeed exceptional.

“What I admire even more is your willingness to help your fellow students. That is the mark of a true gentleman.”

Huang Ming grinned sheepishly and bowed. “You flatter me, sir. I am unworthy.”

“You deserve it. A gentleman is none other than one who possesses benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, fidelity, and courage. Judging by your words and actions of late, you already embody righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and courage. I believe you lack neither benevolence nor fidelity; you are a true gentleman.”

Zhang Bi hesitated briefly before continuing, “Precisely because you are a gentleman, I want to warn you so you won't be caught in someone’s schemes. There is something you must know.”

Huang Ming’s heart skipped a beat, and his expression turned solemn. “Please, sir, enlighten me.”

If Zhang Bi—a Hanlin scholar—spoke so gravely and circled around before revealing his meaning, the matter could hardly be trivial.

“You have offended the Marquis of Jianchang. How could he let such a matter rest? Unable to retaliate through his power directly, he will surely find other means—such as mobilizing his allies at court to impeach you.

“Your father, Huang Jin, holds a particularly sensitive position right now, which only makes it easier for others to target him as well.

“I have just received word that some censors have made a great fuss of the incident where you, a mere student with no official post, were able to call upon the Embroidered Guards to assault the Marquis’s household retainers, and have submitted a memorial impeaching your father, Huang Jin, for abusing his power and urging His Majesty to severely punish both of you.

“Although the memorial was held back by the emperor and not made public, its contents were leaked by the Secretariat, and now more censors are submitting similar petitions.

“Of course, their target is not only Huang Jin, but also eunuchs who served the late emperor, such as Gu Dayong and Zhang Yong. But since they are all eunuchs, they are seen as a single faction, and none will escape scrutiny.

“If I am not mistaken, more people will soon join the chorus of impeachment, and some may even attempt to attack you personally as the instigator. Perhaps tomorrow, or the day after, you might encounter danger as soon as you step outside your door. When that happens, you will be in great peril.

“So my advice is this: you had best remain at home and not go out for the time being. Wait for the dust to settle before you show yourself again.”

Having said all this, Zhang Bi’s true purpose was revealed in his final sentence—he simply wanted Huang Ming to lay low at home.

Huang Ming’s expression shifted through a range of emotions.

He had anticipated that the Marquis of Jianchang might use official channels against him, but he had not expected the man’s influence to be so great, to the point of mobilizing a tide of censors against his father.

No, it could not be the Zhang family alone behind this. Someone was taking advantage of the situation to attack the entire faction of palace eunuchs!

Huang Ming instantly recalled the moment he had first arrived in this world, imprisoned—how the officials of the court had always harbored deep hostility toward the eunuchs. Now, with a new emperor on the throne and reform in the air, they saw an opportunity to eradicate the eunuch faction once and for all.

From what he knew of history, the plan of the civil officials would succeed. For throughout the reigns of Jiajing and Longqing, no eunuch would ever again rise to the heights of power once held by Liu Jin, not until the emergence of Feng Bao in the early Wanli era.

As for his own father, Huang Jin, though he had climbed to the pinnacle of the eunuch hierarchy as Chief Supervisor of Ceremonial and Commander of the Eastern Depot, his power was far less than that wielded by predecessors or successors who had held just one of those positions.

Thoughts whirled through Huang Ming’s mind. At last, he took a deep breath to steady himself, and bowed deeply to Zhang Bi. “Thank you, sir, for your warning. I will remember your words.”

Zhang Bi regarded him for a long moment. “You are a man of rare talent. I do not wish to see you become another casualty of the court’s power struggles. Take care of yourself; your safety must come first.”

“I understand,” Huang Ming replied once more, handing the books back so Zhang Bi could take his leave.

“I never imagined that just as I began to enjoy a few days of peace, an even greater storm would descend. Truly, joy breeds sorrow, fortune and misfortune are ever intertwined…”

With a sigh, Huang Ming’s gaze suddenly hardened with resolve.