Inheriting Lord Pingyuan's Will
The court in Yan had never been without its storms, but this time the turmoil reached an entirely different level. A topic so massive it could only be called a typhoon had been formally placed on the court's agenda: the selection of the royal successor. While nervous skirmishes between the prince faction and the royal brother faction had simmered beneath the surface, the matter had never been openly raised in court before. Yet the instant this succession debate—something everyone had only eyed warily while pretending not to notice—echoed through the halls, it became impossible to feign ignorance any longer. This political struggle would not end until it reached a clear resolution. Stopping midway would not be tolerated. Everyone had expected raised voices and desperate clashes, each side staking their fate until one collapsed completely. But the actual situation did not unfold that way.
As if they had not opened fire without good reason, the prince faction supporting Ji Dan possessed a new ally who gave them solid grounds to claim victory.
"If we are to select a successor, then in my humble opinion it is only fitting that Lord Changseong Ji Dan, His Majesty's eldest legitimate son, be elevated to Crown Prince."
At Yue Jian of Changguo's declaration, the faces of the royal brother faction twisted in shock, as though they had been struck from behind. Who would have thought the man who had maintained strict neutrality all this time would cross over to the prince faction? So this was the confidence that had allowed them to openly raise the succession issue in court. The thought was written plainly across the expressions of those who failed to control their features.
Yet the pillar of the royal brother faction, Su Dai, was not so easily shaken.
"Your Majesty. In a matter of such grave importance, how can we possibly judge right from wrong without first meeting the principals involved? Should we not begin by summoning Lord Anchi and Lord Changseong to this place?"
Since the prince faction had already gained the upper hand in power, conceding the advantage by inviting their central figure, Ji Dan, would buy them time. In the interim, they could investigate why Yue Jian had joined the other side and reverse it if possible. If reversal proved impossible, they would seek the king's cooperation—something both factions had avoided. If the King of Yan intervened and the successor was chosen according to his wishes, royal authority would strengthen while the power of the nobility naturally weakened. Conversely, it was only natural that the king would not welcome his successor being decided by the power struggles among nobles and officials against his own intentions.
I knew the Grand Tutor had met with Yue Jian. I had not expected him to be swayed, but it seems the Grand Tutor's skill was greater than I anticipated. Still, did he not realize that Yue Jian was a move that would provoke His Majesty?
The military authority originally held by Sangbang Yulbok, the king's favored retainer, and Gyeongjin of his faction had passed to Yue Jian after the war's failure. The King of Yan had not welcomed this. After all, he had rejected Yue Jian's repeated dissuasion and launched the war, only to fail spectacularly. Su Dai understood the narrow-minded ruler's psychology: it would be filled with blame-shifting—asking why he had not been stopped more forcefully—and the suspicion that others were secretly pleased by his failure.
But there was one thing Su Dai did not know. It was not Grand Tutor Guo Wu who had drawn Yue Jian into the faction, but Ji Dan himself. And the staircase he had prepared toward the position of Crown Prince consisted of far more than that single step.
While Su Dai calmed the shaken royal brother faction and prepared to draw the King of Yan in alongside Lord Anchi, the court warmly welcomed its third visitor to the palace.
Ji Dan had arrived in Ji.
"If someone had told me in the past that I would come to Ji twice, I absolutely would not have believed them."
"You can say that again. If anyone had said I'd be standing here with you in Ji, I wouldn't have believed it either."
"...What exactly do you mean by that?"
I entered the court while exchanging light reminiscences with Sima Shang. Yeo Hong-seong, who had accompanied us as escort, kept turning her head in every direction. Having been too preoccupied with my proposal to become my guest during our last visit to properly look around, she seemed determined to drink in every corner this time.
"Hong-seong, once this business is finished I'll let you tour Ji as much as you like, so let's move quickly for now."
"Oh? Dear me. I must have behaved without any sense of decorum. Don't worry about me. I can distinguish between public and private affairs."
"The court audience is tomorrow, so where will you stay today? With the Grand Tutor again?"
"The place where the merchant trio is staying would be fine too, like last time. There wasn't anyone worth sparring with back in Changseong anyway."
However, I shook my head at both suggestions. Guo Wu and Jing Ke were like my two arms among the supporting forces currently in Ji, but the person I needed to meet today was not them. From the very day I received the summons to Ji, I had already decided in my heart who I would seek out first upon arrival.
With the two of them flanking me on left and right, I immediately set off toward my destination. I had, of course, familiarized myself in advance with where this person was staying. When we arrived, I asked for the master of the house.
"A guest has arrived. Please inform those inside."
The gatekeeper guarding the entrance examined my attire and immediately became cautious. It was not only my appearance; the two women standing behind me were clearly no ordinary people. Sima Shang projected a cold aura that suggested she possessed quite a temper, while Yeo Hong-seong boasted a physique so massive one might doubt she was truly a woman.
The gatekeeper bowed deeply and asked with great politeness.
"May I inquire as to who...?"
"Lord Changseong. Tell him Lord Changseong has come."
"Ah, yes...!"
Pressed by the intimidating presence radiating from Sima Shang and Yeo Hong-seong, the gatekeeper hurried inside, clearly eager to escape the situation.
"He invites you to enter."
Inside the mansion, the owner had already come out to greet me after hearing of my visit. He welcomed me with disciplined courtesy.
"This one greets Lord Changseong. I did not anticipate your visit and my preparations are insufficient. Please forgive me."
"I should be the one thanking you for receiving me so graciously despite the sudden visit, Lord Su."
Indeed. The person I had come to see was none other than Su Dai, currently positioned at the pinnacle of the opposing faction.
Sima Shang and Yeo Hong-seong reacted with surprising calm upon realizing this. After all, I had previously declared that I would bring even Su Dai to my side, and they seemed to have sensed something when we entered the district where many high officials resided.
Su Dai, on the other hand, showed considerable interest upon seeing the two women behind me. A figure of the same generation as Lian Po, he had dominated this turbulent era for decades. His discerning eye, honed by traveling from Qin in the west to Yan in the east and meeting countless individuals across the central plains, would have recognized their talent at a single glance.
Sure enough, his words carried a subtle note of admiration.
"You have truly remarkable talents by your side."
A person's worth is often judged by the caliber of those who follow them. The previous Zhao minister, though his personal ability was not exceptional, had been regarded as a giant comparable to Lord Pingyuan because he commanded the three great talents known as the Samjaesa. Feeling Su Dai's gaze toward me shift, I followed him deeper into the mansion.
"Lord Changseong has come to speak with me in private, I presume? Shall I have your two companions guided to a separate resting place?"
"Yes, if you would..."
"Young master. I'm fine. Since I came as your escort, I'll wait outside while the two of you talk."
At Yeo Hong-seong's solid reply—that she could distinguish between public and private matters—I glanced at Su Dai, silently asking for permission.
"The attitude of an excellent bodyguard. Do as you please."
"Then I'll stay as well. There's nothing for me to do by myself anyway."
Perhaps because Su Dai was a savior to Zhao as well as Yan, Sima Shang spoke with unusual politeness. With his permission granted, we left the two women outside and entered a private room, sitting face to face.
"There is no need for roundabout words since Lord Changseong has come to see me first."
Su Dai spoke as though he already understood why I had sought him before anyone else. In truth, it was an implicit acknowledgment that I considered him more important than Guo Wu. But I held no expectation that such an emotional appeal alone would be enough to sway him.
Since he had spoken directly, I chose to charge forward without evasion.
"The reason Lord Su supports Lord Anchi is surely because he carries the blood of Zhao's royal house. Ultimately, I believe it is to pursue alliance with Zhao through marriage ties."
"That is correct. I have seen the state of Qin with my own eyes. If Zhao and Yan oppose each other, it will only benefit Qin."
"Reaping the fisherman's profit. Exactly as you say."
What Su Dai and I ultimately desired was the same: for Zhao and Yan to join forces rather than fight. Having confirmed this, I declared with conviction.
"However, if Lord Su truly desires cooperation between Zhao and our state, then supporting me rather than Lord Anchi would be the far more certain choice. I dare assert this boldly."
"...I would like to hear your reasons."
Why did Su Dai seek an alliance between Zhao and Yan to check Qin? It stemmed partly from his own convictions, but also from his desire to inherit the dream of his elder brother Su Qin, who had met his end in Qi. And that was the same for me. My wish to restrain Qin came not only from the knowledge that its coming wars were seeds it had sown itself, but from the need to repay a favor received from someone.
I drew a seal from within my robe.
"It is because I am the one who inherited Lord Pingyuan's will."