Volume One: The Overseer and the Apprentice Chapter Thirty-Four: Father and Son

Night.

In the rear residence of the Yang family, the study.

Standing below his father, Yang Shen’s face was filled with shame and self-reproach. Watching his father still immersed in writing behind the desk, he spoke in a low voice, “Father, this time I misjudged the situation and made things worse by trying to be clever…”

Only after finishing the document at hand did Yang Tinghe lay down his brush and look up at his eldest son, yet there was little blame in his gaze. “You’ve heard about the happenings in the palace?”

“Yes, I—”

“You did indeed err, but ultimately, I was the one who decided on this course, so if we must speak of faults, mine only surpasses yours.”

Yang Tinghe’s words caused Yang Shen’s expression to shift again. “Father…”

But he was immediately interrupted. “Let me finish. You were wrong this time for underestimating the enemy and acting rashly, but did I not also underestimate the eunuchs’ influence over His Majesty?

“In truth, if you think carefully, such things have happened before.

“Back in Emperor Wuzong’s reign, the inner and outer court tried to join forces to eradicate Liu Jin and other treacherous figures. The momentum then was even greater than today. Yet, after their tearful pleas, the matter was brushed aside.

“This allowed Liu Jin and his ilk to grow bolder, disrupt the government, deceive officials, and threaten the realm!”

With a sigh, Yang Tinghe continued, “There was a clear lesson from the past, yet I was still careless, thinking that launching an attack through court opinion would suffice to sweep the eunuchs away.

“So, if we are to speak of underestimating the enemy and making mistakes, as a father and chief minister, I am above all others in fault. How could I blame you, the one who proposed the plan?”

“But it was my idea to leverage the incident with the Imperial Guards assaulting the servants of the Marquis of Jianchang’s residence,” Yang Shen persisted in his self-reproach.

“That’s merely a trivial detail. If His Majesty wishes to protect them, the charges, whether grave or trivial, real or false, become irrelevant. That’s why I haven’t brought this up with you these past days—I didn’t want you to feel as you do now…”

These words only deepened Yang Shen’s remorse. “Father…”

“Enough. You’re past thirty and have served as an official for years—there’s no need to behave like a child.”

Yang Tinghe waved his hand. “What’s done is done; there’s no point in dwelling on regret. What we must do now is look ahead and do our best to remedy past mistakes.”

Yang Shen’s spirits lifted at once. “Do you mean there’s still a chance?”

“As long as the people’s hearts are with us, there is always a chance. This time, we merely mistook an opportunity for something it was not. Our original plan may still proceed.”

Yang Tinghe’s expression grew solemn and deliberate. “Do you remember what your most important task is right now?”

“Of course—the upcoming classics lecture!”

“We agreed before: we must use this final lecture of the year to show the Emperor, and the realm, that restoring order in the court requires purging the palace eunuchs.

“Even though things have become complicated, if the lecture succeeds, the Emperor will surely understand our intentions.

“As the chief lecturer for this session, are you confident you can manage everything?”

A confident light flashed in Yang Shen’s eyes. In other matters, he might hesitate to promise success, but in literary affairs, as a former top scholar, he was certain of himself.

“Rest assured, Father. I will ensure this lecture is conducted perfectly, enough to show the Emperor what is right and wrong, so he might truly turn his heart toward the proper path!”

“Then refine it well. I await the final result.”

With his father’s encouragement, Yang Shen finally regained his composure and bowed deeply. “Yes. Father, you mustn’t tire yourself too much; please rest early.”

“I know.”

Though he spoke thus, Yang Tinghe immediately took up another document, lowering his head to review it meticulously. He paid no heed even as his son left and closed the door behind him.

...

Huang Jin was brought home by carriage.

He was carried out, lying motionless on a stretcher padded with soft blankets.

A prophecy come true.

He was indeed one of the chief eunuchs beaten with the court rod.

When Huang Ming hurried out from the back courtyard and saw his father in this state, he feared he would soon become an orphan.

But after the soldiers who delivered Huang Jin home received their reward and departed, leaving only family in the hall, the injured man on the stretcher finally groaned and spoke.

“Father, how badly are you hurt? Should we call a doctor?” Huang Ming quickly asked with concern.

“No need. I’ve already used medicine in the palace these past two days,” Huang Jin said, hissing through his teeth, his expression a mix of pain and amusement. “It’s merely superficial wounds—give it a couple of days and I’ll be fine.”

“But…” Huang Ming eyed the thick bandages beneath the blanket, thinking his father made light of his injuries, especially given how he’d been brought home.

“How else would I give the master and others a proper explanation?” Huang Jin replied, actually managing to turn over, though he winced again, yet ended up lying flat.

Judging by his manner, the injuries to his rear weren’t as severe as they appeared.

Seeing his son’s look of astonishment, he chuckled, “This is the artistry of the Imperial Guards’ rod. Do you think just anyone can wield it? To master this technique takes years of hard training in the Guard; only those with skill, guided by veterans and refined through practice, can control the force at will, leaving no trace before or after.

“They say the most skilled can place paper atop tofu, strike the paper with the rod so it shatters without harming the tofu at all, or vice versa—reduce the tofu to mush while the paper remains unscathed.

“That’s true mastery, able to control force with precision.”

Huang Ming listened, clicking his tongue in admiration. Truly, every trade has its experts.

It was clear his father’s wounds were of the former kind.

Seemingly grave, but in reality nothing serious—after a couple of days, he would recover completely.

“Actually, all of this is thanks to the master’s grace; otherwise I wouldn’t have suffered the rod at all.”

Huang Jin continued, “The method you suggested proved effective, and the master now understands that we servants were wronged by the courtiers, so he’s inclined to protect us.

“Moreover, the master knows who is truly loyal. So, to earn gratitude throughout the palace, he deliberately had me and a few others punished together. The others suffered real blows, but mine were just flesh wounds.”

“The Emperor is truly wise,” Huang Ming couldn’t help but say.

It must be admitted, Emperor Jiajing was an unusually clever ruler. Unlike himself, the Emperor was a genuine fifteen-year-old youth.

“Of course. The master’s brilliance rivals that of the founding emperors.”

Huang Jin looked proud. “Originally, I planned to feign recovery in the palace, but with new developments, I had to use my injuries as an excuse to leave the palace.”