Volume Two: The Noble and the Knave Chapter Twelve: When Everything Comes Together

Before dawn, after those several officers had been arrested and brought to justice, Huang Ming, accompanied by Huang Bingkun and other Embroidered Uniform Guards, left the Southern City Garrison and made his way home.

As for the aftermath concerning Liao Kui, the time for an open confrontation had not yet come. Huang Ming was confident that Feng Wu would never dare to speak of the night's events to anyone else; otherwise, Feng Wu would likely be the first to die.

In truth, it wasn’t just Feng Wu the jailer who was gripped by fear—even Huang Bingkun, a commander in the Embroidered Uniform Guards, felt somewhat uneasy.

Sitting in the carriage, Huang Bingkun asked anxiously, “Young Master Huang, do you truly intend to keep investigating this matter?”

“Why not?” Huang Ming replied with a cold chuckle. “If they dare to act, why should we not dare to investigate?”

He glanced at Huang Bingkun, his tone softening. “Don’t worry—I won’t let you shoulder all the risk for helping me. I remember well how you’ve saved and assisted me more than once.”

“You flatter me, Young Master. This is simply my duty,” Huang Bingkun replied.

“As for Liao Kui, just assign a trusted man to watch him quietly, look for his mistakes or any evidence against him, and handle him when the time is right. You’re a commander in the Embroidered Uniform Guards—surely you can manage this much?” Huang Ming smiled.

“Keeping an eye on him is easy enough, Young Master. You’ll hear from me soon,” Huang Bingkun agreed, finally relieved that Huang Ming didn’t expect him to follow the trail all the way to someone as powerful as Yang Shen. “Only, if he’s cautious and makes no mistakes, it might take longer to catch him!”

“If he can disregard the law enough to have his men arrange for Niu Si to harm me, he’s a man without scruples. There must be other weaknesses to exploit,” Huang Ming said confidently. “I’ll leave it to you.”

As they spoke, the carriage soon arrived at the gates of the Huang household. At Huang An’s call, Huang Ming and Qi Changfeng bid farewell to Huang Bingkun, disembarked, and headed inside.

By now, the sun had risen, and the servants were already sweeping inside and outside the main gate. Seeing their young master return, they hurried forward to greet him, though their gazes held a hint of something strange.

Before Huang Ming could ask, Yu Mo hurried over, having heard the news, and anxiously said, “Young Master, the master returned yesterday evening, and I’ve also heard that you went to Nanxun Lane…”

Huang Ming responded with a simple “Oh,” and understood at last why everyone wore such expressions. In any respectable household, such a matter would not be taken lightly—he was not yet eighteen, and yet he had visited a famed brothel. No parent would let that pass without a lecture.

But Huang Ming was at ease, walking steadily inside. Soon, he met Butler Huang Zhong in the central courtyard and asked, “Uncle Zhong, is my father up yet?”

“The master has just risen—”

Before Huang Zhong, whose expression was equally peculiar, could say more, Huang Ming interjected, “I’ll go see him now,” and headed straight to the rear quarters.

Huang Jin had indeed just risen and was having a thick, comfortable robe put on by his attendant. Seeing Huang Ming at the door, he half-smiled, “Back so early? I hear you went to Nanxun Lane last night?”

“Yes, Father. Zhang Han and Xu Qingzhi invited me, and we went to the House of Delight,” Huang Ming replied frankly.

This left Huang Jin momentarily at a loss, looking a bit awkward. His son admitted to visiting a brothel in front of his father without any embarrassment—wasn’t he perhaps a bit too mature for his age?

Huang Ming smiled to himself; in any situation, if you remain unembarrassed, it is others who will be uncomfortable.

“You, it’s still too early for you to go to such places,” Huang Jin sighed, half admonishing. “You’re a scholar now—haven’t you read: ‘In youth, blood runs hot; beware of indulgence!’ And you didn’t come home all night…”

Huang Ming accepted the rebuke humbly, “Father, you are right. I went because I didn’t want to refuse my friends and also to broaden my experience.”

He paused, then added, “Actually, I left the House of Delight around the second watch of the night…”

“Then why are you only returning now?”

“Because something happened on the way, and I was taken to the Southern City Garrison.”

Huang Jin was taken aback and, now fully dressed, dismissed his attendant with a wave.

With only father and son in the room, he looked Huang Ming over. “You must have something important to tell me?”

No one knows a son better than his father. Though they hadn’t spent much time together, certain things were clear to him.

Huang Ming nodded. “Father, you’re right. My arrest allowed me to uncover some things. The mastermind behind those who targeted me and nearly had me killed by a fellow prisoner has been found.”

“So, though I suffered some last night, the harvest was considerable.”

“And who is it?” Huang Jin’s face grew serious.

“A censor from the Office of Scrutiny, Liao Kui.”

Seeing the doubt in his father’s eyes, Huang Ming added, “According to Huang Bingkun, Liao Kui seems to have connections with Yang Shen.”

Huang Jin’s body visibly tensed. “Do you have solid evidence?”

“Not yet. So for now, we must wait and see.”

“That’s wise. If Yang the Grand Secretary is involved, not even the highest in the land would act rashly, much less you.” He furrowed his brow in thought.

Huang Ming quickly caught on, “Father, is there something on your mind as well? Does it concern His Majesty?”

No one knows a father better than his son.

Huang Jin did not intend to hide it from his son and sighed. “Yes. Lately, His Majesty has been ill at ease.”

“Why?”

“All because of filial piety.” Huang Jin lowered his voice, speaking so only they could hear. “On New Year’s Day, His Majesty went to the ancestral temple to pay respects. Since then, he’s been troubled—after all, the late Prince Xing’s tomb is still in Anlu, and His Majesty used to visit several times each year.

“And the Empress Dowager remains at the Prince of Anlu’s residence, which weighs heavily on His Majesty’s heart.”

Huang Ming’s heart leapt—was it finally beginning?

The Great Rites Controversy of the Jiajing era, a momentous event in Ming history, when the Emperor sought to posthumously honor his princely father as Emperor!

“Is His Majesty planning to bring the Empress Dowager to the capital, and perhaps also…”

“It seems so,” Huang Jin sighed, “but it’s easier said than done. There’s the court to consider, especially Grand Secretary Yang.

“Today, His Majesty has already sent gifts to Grand Secretary Yang, as a way to test the waters. Who knows what the result will be?”

“I fear he will meet with firm resistance,” Huang Ming said at once.

Huang Jin was about to reply when Huang Zhong hurried in, so he held his tongue.

“Master, Young Master, a steward from the House of Delight is here, calling himself Zhao Jian, and requests an audience.”

As he spoke, Huang Zhong glanced nervously at Huang Ming, fearing his young master had gotten into some kind of trouble.

Huang Ming scoffed, “How prompt… Father, there’s one more matter I wish to discuss with you.”

This new year was anything but peaceful—everything seemed to happen at once.