Lord Huang, whom Ye Qiu named, serves as the Minister of Justice. At over sixty years old this year, like Qiao Zhenglian and Old Zhang, he is an experienced minister who has served through three dynasties. He comes from a longstanding second-class aristocratic family and is known for his integrity and gravity.
According to Ye Qiu, although Lord Huang came to see the Emperor at the palace with Qiao Zhenglian, he is not one of Qiao's followers. Even though Qiao is an elder, his family background is not substantial enough to warrant a scion of an aristocratic family risking his life for him.
Perhaps, it is precisely because he has seen many such aristocratic scions that Qiao Zhenglian is so intent on climbing higher. Being an elder is not enough; only if his granddaughter becomes the Empress and his great-grandson the Crown Prince will the standing of the Qiao Family rise to be on par with other aristocratic families.
