Volume Two: The Great and the Small Chapter Twenty-Six: Teacher Zhang, the Persuader

The next day, after the hour of the Snake had passed, Huang Ming’s carriage came to a steady stop before the gate of Zhang Bi’s residence.

The Zhang household was as it had been during the New Year: aside from the couple themselves, only two old servants remained to keep watch, giving the place a rather deserted air.

After being shown in by one of the servants, Huang Ming found Zhang Bi in the sitting room, a book in hand. He immediately bowed in greeting and, at the same time, offered up a box he had brought: “I came in such haste that I had no time to prepare a proper gift. I noticed earlier that the brush stand in your study was a little damaged, so I bought a new one. I hope you will not despise it.”

Zhang Bi glanced at him, then took the box, opened it at once, and after looking inside set it on the table. “You were thoughtful.”

Only then did Huang Ming feel somewhat relieved. It really was difficult to bring something to Teacher Zhang.

Over the past few months, he had come to see that Zhang Bi was indeed no greedy man; he possessed the upright bearing of a true scholar and would never truly accept anything extravagant, even from a student.

If the gift were too costly, his teacher would even be displeased.

But since he had come calling, propriety could not be neglected, so he had to choose something useful to him, something scholars liked, yet not too expensive.

Clearly, the sandalwood brush stand that had cost more than ten taels of silver was the perfect gift.

Perhaps it was only his imagination, but after he sat down, Huang Ming felt that his teacher’s expression had softened somewhat, and so he exchanged a few casual greetings and pleasantries.

Zhang Bi chatted with him for a moment before suddenly asking, “You came quite early today. It won’t interfere with your big business, will it?”

Just as expected.

Huang Ming’s heart moved, but he kept his face calm. “Since it was Teacher’s invitation to a meal, then no matter how large the matter, this student must set it aside. Besides, I have not been paying much attention to those recent affairs.”

“So you admit it?” Zhang Bi fixed him with a stare. “This matter that has caused quite a stir in the capital lately, this new ranking of courtesans from many pleasure houses—was it truly pushed along behind the scenes by you?”

Huang Ming did not avoid his gaze and smiled as he nodded. “Since even Teacher knows of it, could it be that…”

“I only heard of it from others and then learned there was such a thing. I never imagined that it would be so closely connected to you.”

With a sigh, Zhang Bi said sorrowfully, “Mòzhī, how could you do such a thing!

“Do you know what enormous effect it will have on your reputation and your future if this is ever made public?”

From his expression and the tone of his voice, one could hear his disappointment in a student whom he feared could not rise to his potential.

Huang Ming was touched as well. This showed that Teacher Zhang truly cared about him.

Still, he gave a bitter smile and said, “What Teacher says is only reasonable. It is certainly not something pleasant to speak of. But the problem is, given this student’s origins and my present identity as a palace student at the Imperial Academy, do I truly have any reputation or future to speak of?”

Those words left Zhang Bi silent.

Only then did he suddenly remember what sort of background this student had—a eunuch’s son, never accepted by the court’s mainstream. Indeed, there was not much to speak of in the way of future or reputation.

Even so, Zhang Bi still said, “Our Great Ming has never established any rule forbidding the sons of eunuchs from taking the civil examinations. Have you never considered taking the proper path and completely turning your fortunes around? Besides, the father-son relationship between you and Huang… Eunuch Huang is, in the end, false…”

Before he could finish, Huang Ming rare­ly interrupted him. “I ask that Teacher take back those words!”

“This…” Zhang Bi froze. Only then did he realize he had spoken out of turn in his agitation, and his face reddened.

“I, Huang Ming, am not a man greedy for wealth and rank, but I cannot possibly do such a thing as being unfilial merely for the sake of other people’s notions!” Huang Ming said solemnly. “If Father had not sent men back to our hometown in time, I might already have died long ago of hunger and illness. If Father had not brought me to the capital, how could I be sitting here speaking with Teacher today?

“Setting aside the fact that Father is already my only living kinsman in this world, even if we had no blood relation at all, I would still acknowledge him as my father, and no one could change that.

“I will naturally heed many of Teacher’s teachings, but on this one matter alone, I believe that first and foremost, a person must not forget where he comes from. Otherwise he would not even deserve to be called a man. I hope Teacher will see this clearly!”

These words caused Zhang Bi’s expression to change once more. After a period of silence, he suddenly rose and formally bowed deeply to Huang Ming.

“This time, I misspoke. I am here to beg your pardon…”

Huang Ming hurried forward to support him and return the礼. “What is Teacher doing… I know this comes from your concern for me, merely a moment’s careless slip of the tongue.”

“If it was wrong, then it was wrong. There is no need for you to excuse me.” Zhang Bi waved a hand again, his sincerity and candor evident.

After this incident passed, Zhang Bi still asked earnestly, “Mòzhī, have you truly never thought about your future? With your intelligence and talent, you could in fact take the proper path of the examinations.”

Huang Ming gave a wry smile and shook his head. “Teacher thinks too highly of me. How could I possibly have such ability?”

A man knows his own affairs best. In the Imperial Academy, Huang Ming seemed rather impressive, but that was only because everyone there was an academic underachiever, and he also had the accumulation of experience from his previous life.

But if he were truly made to study the Four Books and Five Classics, that would be forcing the impossible, and he would still have to compete in ruthless academic rat-racing with the hundreds of thousands of scholars who had spent years bent over their desks in the Ming realm. Even if he had the will, he did not have the strength.

Not to mention that Huang Ming had never once intended to immerse himself in those rigid old texts, or to write exam essays in the stereotyped eight-part style.

Seeing that his mind was made up, Zhang Bi could say no more and could only sigh. “Even so, you cannot completely disregard your own reputation. If you truly want to enter court service, your parentage is one matter, but your own previous conduct will also have far-reaching effects.

“Especially at a time like this, you ought to be more careful and not lose much over little.”

“What exactly does Teacher mean by that?” Huang Ming heard that there was some other meaning hidden in his words, and asked curiously.

“You should not know yet, but a few days ago His Majesty intended to select several men of exceptional learning from the Imperial Academy and appoint them to office in the court… Though the matter is still under consideration, it is at least an opportunity.”

Huang Ming’s heart stirred. Had Jiajing finally heeded the advice he had given that day and truly intended to open up a new battlefield beyond the civil examinations?

“In my view, whether this is a true selection or whether an examination is required, the chance of you, Huang Mòzhī, standing out is quite great. But now that you have caused such a disturbance, I fear someone will soon use it as material for an attack.”

As Zhang Bi spoke, his gaze drifted slightly. “This truly concerns your future prospects. I hope you will take it seriously. As for matters that damage your reputation, it would be best to withdraw from them as early as possible—or else, be good to others…”

At once Huang Ming understood: his teacher was not only advising him to step back in order to preserve his name, but also trying to speak on behalf of someone else.

Just then, the old servant came again to report, “Master, Lord Gu has arrived at the gate…”