Chapter 198: The Procession to Suwon [2]
Chapter 198: The Procession to Suwon [2]
Thanks to the Seonjeongwan making such a fuss, the group was able to arrive a little ahead of schedule. Seonjo came out a little later than planned. As a result, the procession was able to proceed without any problems.
“Whew, I’m nervous.”
“No kidding.”
Apparently awkward in the official robes they were wearing for the first time, Dolseok and Makbong sat so stiffly straight that their backs looked as though they might snap. At least they were mounted on expensive horses. Otherwise, they probably would have fallen off long before.
Watching the two of them, Baek Kanghyeok shook his head.
“You two only have to help with the treatment, so what are you so nervous about?”
“Please don’t say that. When would lowborn fellows like us ever get to see the king’s face?”
Dolseok replied with a look that said there could be no greater honor than this. The more Baek Kanghyeok watched him, the more absurd it felt. Of course, Dolseok might be a little better off than he was, but was that fellow not still a total mess himself?
“Well, well. Now you’re pretending to know etiquette too.”
“Of course I know etiquette.”
“And guys like you poison your master’s meal with pufferfish poison?”
“Oh, come on. Anyone hearing that would get the wrong idea.”
“Quiet down, will you? His Majesty might hear.”
One of the Seonjeongwan riding ahead silently turned around to look back. At that, both Baek Kanghyeok and Dolseok shut their mouths tight, because Seonjo really might hear.
The procession itself was very small. In name it was the king’s royal procession, yet the number of ministers accompanying him was small enough to count on one hand. Chief State Councillor Yi San-hae and Gwanghae-gun and the others all stayed behind in the palace. Only Right State Councillor Ryu Seong-ryong and Chief Royal Secretary Yi Hangbok really stood out.
They said that on a trip meant to comfort the people, bringing too many people would only do harm, did they not? No matter how one looked at it, that was surely not something that had come from Seonjo’s own head. It had to have been either Ryu Seong-ryong or Yi Hangbok. In any case, thanks to that plausible explanation, Seonjo was able to go off to receive surgery with peace of mind.
Kim Yungil really does have sharp instincts.
Even though no separate message had been sent, he had already passed word that he had prepared a temporary royal residence in a secluded place. Considering the small size of the procession, the recent rumors surrounding Seonjo, and Baek Kanghyeok’s sudden inclusion, he must have drawn some conclusion. As it turned out, the conclusion he reached pleased Seonjo greatly.
Seonjo looked around the shrine, surrounded on all sides by rugged mountains, and smiled.
“Haha. Truly, no one at all will be passing through around here.”
“That is indeed so, Your Majesty. Moreover, this is a shrine built to honor the scholars who died in the Eotan-myeon disturbance, as well as their teacher Jeong Changgwon, so I believe it also accords with the purpose of this procession.”
Ryu Seong-ryong also wore a satisfied expression. Was Busa Kim Yungil not quite a prominent figure among the Easterners? As a fellow Easterner, he was profoundly grateful that Kim Yungil had made such a quick-witted decision.
“Ah, I see. I have heard of the scholar Jeong Changgwon. He rendered great service, but because of Jeong Yeo-rip he suffered losses. Yet even so, such a shrine was built for him.”
“As I understand it, Busa Kim Yungil took the lead in it. Because of that, Kim Yungil also suffered much oppression, but he insisted that honoring a scholar who died fighting Japanese marauders was not something that should be constrained by political affairs.”
“Hah. I thought Kim Yungil was merely slick, but he has a rather upright side too. Very well. In my name, some supplies shall be sent to this shrine.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
For Seonjo, that alone counted as showing rather generous favor. Of course, he still did not remove from Jeong Changgwon and his daughter Jeong Yeoju the label of being a traitor’s family. Even so, this was still something.
Father...
Because of that, clear tears fell from Jeong Yeoju’s eyes as she bowed her head in the distance. Had she not been granted an office beyond her station as a woman in male disguise, yet been unable to receive it under her real name? She had been forced to use the truly strange name Yang Jae-won. It was the name of a child from the Aeogae gang who had died in an inn long ago, and fortunately the man’s identification tag remained, making its use possible.
“In any case, it is about time to begin the treatment.”
Seonjo spoke as he looked over the shrine, which seemed so remote that no one but mountain birds would ever come by. According to Busa Kim Yungil, no ordinary person ever came near except during the once-a-year memorial rite. Even now, the servants who had managed the shrine had all been withdrawn. Not just inside the shrine, but even the surrounding area had been filled entirely with Seonjo’s trusted men. In other words, there was no chance whatsoever that word would leak out.
“Indeed, Your Majesty. Shall I summon Cheomjeong Baek?”
“Hmm? No, let it be. He is no doubt meeting his father’s face again after a long time. I cannot deny him that.”
“Your words are truly full of consideration.”
“No. Even I was surprised. Who would have thought Cheomjeong Baek’s filial heart was so profound?”
“He also seemed very close with the Busa.”
“It seems he has a good reputation in his hometown. Men like that are the sort one can keep using for a long time.”
Muttering these absurd misunderstandings, Seonjo turned his gaze toward where Baek Kanghyeok had gone. Just as he expected, Baek Kanghyeok was indeed with Seungmun. Though not entirely alone.
“You truly surprise me every time you come.”
Seungmun said this with a broad laugh. Beside him was a mountain-like pile of silver, ornaments, old books, and the like that Baek Kanghyeok had brought as gifts. The silver and ornaments had been brought from Japan, while the books had been bought in Hanyang with that silver. Both were so valuable that it was hard to say which was more precious.
But the reason Seungmun was laughing was not because of such gifts. He himself already had more wealth than enough.
“You praise me too much, Father.”
“No, no. Never. I never dreamed you would come to attend to His Majesty’s illness.”
“That is true. I did not know it either.”
The Busa, who had also received not a few gifts, laughed heartily as well. The reason for his laughter admittedly had quite a bit to do with the wealth he had just received. Though that did not mean he felt no pride at all in Baek Kanghyeok.
“Did I not tell you? He cured my illness as if by magic, so I said he would go far.”
“But who could have imagined he would go this far? Surely even you did not imagine this much.”
“That is true. Hahaha.”
“This is a source of pride not just for our household, but for Suwon itself. Hahaha.”
Seungmun was in such high spirits that he laughed all evening. Rarely for him, he even brought out the liquor that had long sat piled up in his house without sparing any of it. As a result, Baek Kanghyeok and the others could only smack their lips in regret. People who were supposed to treat the king could not very well get thoroughly drunk. And more than that, they could not even drink leisurely with peace of mind.
“Well then, regrettable though it is, you should go back now.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Hahaha.”
Seungmun kept laughing, his face flushed red. Kim Yungil, who had come out with them, was already dead drunk. Since he was ordinarily a master of drinking and debauchery, the fact that he had ended up like this meant the amount of alcohol consumed had been no ordinary thing. And because Seungmun had been leading the drinking, he too had drunk a considerable amount. So his tongue was heavily twisted.
“Though I have said it many times already, I must say it once more for the last time.”
“Please say it.”
“I am truly proud of you. This father of yours could die now with no regrets.”
“Please do not say such things. You will live a long, long time.”
Baek Kanghyeok smiled as he looked at Seungmun, who still appeared robust. Just in case, he had observed Seungmun the entire time they drank. It had not been at the level of a proper health screening center, but he had still been able to gather quite a bit of information, because he was Baek Kanghyeok, not someone else.
For his age... no, there’s no need even to mention his age. He’s healthy. Naturally strong. Going around here and there with the Busa probably helps too.
Assessing the health of elderly people was unexpectedly not very difficult. For example, whether they drooled while eating, or whether they choked far too often. Whether even their small bodily movements were brisk or sluggish, whether there was strength in their steps, what quantity of alcohol they could drink. Taking all of that together, Baek Seungmun was healthy enough that the word vigorous suited him just fine.
Having reached that conclusion, Baek Kanghyeok turned his head with a somewhat relieved expression. Far off in the mountains, he could see a place with lights on. It was the shrine where Seonjo was staying.
“To tell the truth, I would like to stay longer.”
Baek Kanghyeok turned back regretfully. Seungmun was still waving his hand. He had just said that he could die without regrets, yet he clearly still had endless attachment to the child who had only just left him. And Baek Kanghyeok, understanding that feeling all too well, felt sorry.
“Even so, Young Master, what can be done?”
Jeong Yeoju, riding beside him, bowed her head.
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Still... once the surgery goes well, it seems there may be a little time.”
“That’s true too.”
The surgery Baek Kanghyeok was planning was by no means a simple one. The procedure itself would not be easy, and the recovery afterward would clearly take a long time as well, because it was surgery that would interfere with balance function on one side. Seonjo would probably have to remain here longer than he himself expected. If so, there would surely be one or two more chances to meet.
Even so, seeing Baek Kanghyeok’s dark expression, Jeong Yeoju spoke.
“Young Master, do not think it troublesome. Visit him diligently. When the day comes when you no longer can, that regret cuts deep and torments you.”
“Ah. Yeo—”
“It would be better to call me Jae-won here.”
“Right. Understood. I won’t forget your advice.”
Even if someone looked healthy, what did that matter? That did not mean their lifespan could be predicted. Was not human life the very thing whose next moment could never be known? And if it was the life of an old person, that was all the more true.
Right. If I can, I should see him often.
While he was making that vow, they had already reached the shrine. Though the mountain path was winding, they had arrived quickly after all because those accompanying him were excellent. Baek Kanghyeok alone already held no low office, and the entire group following him were all temporary officials of Junior Ninth Rank. The procession might not have been splendid, but it could not help but be impressive.
“Ah, Cheomjeong Naeuri, you have returned.”
A soldier whose face he already knew opened the door for him.
“Hup.”
At the same time, the whole group jumped down from their horses. Though it had originally been a shrine, it was now a temporary royal residence. For that reason, they could not dare ride horses where the king was staying. No matter how rough Baek Kanghyeok might be, even he had to observe that. There was no god who handed out extra lives just because someone lacked manners.
“Is His Majesty asleep?”
“The lights have been put out, but I do not know whether he is sleeping.”
“I see. Understood. Which side is our room on?”
“This way. We heated the room in advance, so it should not be too uncomfortable for sleeping.”
“Thank you.”
“It is nothing, Naeuri.”
As usual, Baek Kanghyeok handed the soldier a small piece of silver. The soldier took it familiarly, because by now it was already widely known that Baek Kanghyeok was generous.
There’s no knowing how this might come back around later.
Praying that it might prove helpful in the war to come, Baek Kanghyeok headed to his room. As the soldier had said, the room was full of cozy warmth.
“Nice.”
“As expected, Young Master’s room is the best. I caught a glimpse earlier, and even Lord Ryu’s room isn’t this good.”
Dolseok grinned proudly.
“They did this so I’d treat His Majesty well.”
“Well, anyway. I live in comfort thanks to you too, Young Master.”
“What comfort? Tomorrow you’ll be suffering like dogs.”
“Hehe. We’ve taken office now, so we ought to endure hardship.”
“Right. I hope you really mean that. I’m going to be a bit touchy tomorrow.”
“Uh... why?”
“If I’m opening the king’s head and I’m not touchy, that would make me a madman, wouldn’t it?”