While Minister Huang was chatting with his wife, his son suddenly rushed in from outside. Huang Tong, Chancellor of the Imperial College in the capital and a fourth-rank official, was panting heavily.
"Father, something terrible has happened." Huang Tong did not even have time for formalities before blurting it out between gasps.
"What is it? Didn't I tell you to maintain composure in the face of great events?" Minister Huang asked unhurriedly.
"Yuan Shi, the garrison commander at the Southern Border Region frontier, has rebelled. He says the court is steeped in wicked influences, disobeys the Sage's Words, and recklessly alters the laws of the ancestors. He plans to lead his troops to the capital and Purge the Emperor's Entourage!" Huang Tong hurriedly explained.
"What?" Minister Huang immediately rose to his feet, then told his wife, "Bring me my court robes at once. I'm entering the palace tonight!"
His wife hurriedly fetched his clothes and helped him change. He was dressing in such haste that he nearly put one sleeve on wrong.
"Father, maintain composure in the face of great events," Huang Tong quickly reminded him.
"Get lost! This isn't some great event. This is a disaster that will see our whole family executed!" Minister Huang slapped his son, then climbed into a sedan chair and hurried from the house.
Whole family executed?
Huang Tong stood frozen.
Then he recalled an old story. During the Han Dynasty, Chao Cuo had advised reducing the powers of the feudal lords, and the lords had raised troops in rebellion. The Jing Emperor had Chao Cuo cut in half at the waist, buying time to divide the lords...
The imperial family was ruthless indeed.
You could devote yourself wholeheartedly to them, yet the moment they needed it, they could kill you at any time.