Dilemma -1
"First, the two of you will purify your bodies through a ritual bath."
The Emperor was the pillar of this empire.
The procedures one had to follow simply to meet him were numerous. Did the visitor carry any disease that might be transmitted to the Emperor? Did they pass the hygiene inspection? Were they concealing anything on their person that could harm him?
Was this someone who might affect the Emperor's mood? Or someone capable of shaking the Emperor's thoughts and convictions?
In short, they checked every last one of those things.
Under the watchful eyes of the palace maids I stripped completely, proving I hid nothing, and was then scrubbed raw.
Having one beautiful palace maid after another attend my bath left me feeling a little awkward, yet a single glance at their eyes snuffed that mood out cold.
Those gazes burned with the absolute will to unearth even the slightest suspicion in every movement I made.
Even my little friend, which had begun to stir under that relentless scrutiny, declared surrender and went limp.
Once the bath ended, my clothes vanished somewhere and were replaced by the guest attire they issued.
"Please rest and recover from your journey today. Starting tomorrow, we will explain the basic etiquette for dealing with members of the Imperial Family."
From the palace maid's mouth poured a flood of precautions to observe inside Gongcheong Hall. One must never approach another guest of Gongcheong Hall without leave, and entering any other guest room required absolute permission from the hall itself.
Martial practice was allowed, but one first had to inform the assigned palace maid and obtain leave to use the training grounds. Naturally, leaving Gongcheong Hall was impossible, and wherever one went, at least one palace maid had to accompany them.
It was utterly stifling.
When I nodded, the middle-aged palace maid offered a light bow and left the room.
I worried a little about how Hyeok Gi-rin's cross-dressing issue had been handled, yet this was the Imperial Palace—practically her own backyard. She would have managed it just fine.
In the end, trapped in this cramped room, the only thing I could properly do was circulate my energy and regulate my breathing.
Even if I could use the training grounds, the swords there were likely nothing more than practice blades or wooden ones. Training forms with a sword that was not my own would only dull my instincts.
Better, then, to invest the time in clearing the residual energy of the five spiritual medicines still lingering in my body through energy circulation.
For a while I would focus on regulating my breathing and settling my internal state.
With that thought I immediately crossed my legs into a meditative posture.
"I will go on a secret outing. Prepare."
"Understood."
Yu Gyeong's eunuchs prepared for the secret outing without a word of complaint. The destination was obvious. It would be a visit to Gongcheong Hall, where Hyeok Gi-rin was staying.
That Hyeok Gi-rin lived as a martial artist to avoid power struggles was an open secret among those well-versed in palace affairs.
The eunuchs moved busily, clearing countless palace servants and creating an invisible path that would not catch the eyes of anyone but those involved.
Yu Gyeong entered Gongcheong Hall filled with anticipation.
The palace servants of Gongcheong Hall quietly welcomed the Emperor.
"Prolong the procedures of Gongcheong Hall as much as possible."
"We shall handle it according to Your Majesty's will. As they are outsiders, we will fulfill Gongcheong Hall's duties all the more thoroughly."
Yu Gyeong nodded and stood before Hyeok Gi-rin's door.
"Hero Hyeok Gi-rin, a guest has arrived."
"At this hour...? Please let them in."
Yu Gyeong and Hyeok Gi-rin faced each other. Hyeok Gi-rin's eyes widened, and Yu Gyeong likewise gazed at her with eyes full of emotion.
"Yu Ya..."
"Brother... no, I greet Your Majesty the Emperor."
Yu Gyeong gestured, and the eunuchs withdrew every palace maid and all others, closed the door, and disappeared. Only then could the two finally be alone.
Yu Gyeong hurriedly helped Hyeok Gi-rin to her feet. Grasping her hands to raise her, he took in her appearance. Hyeok Gi-rin, who had left the Imperial Family at the age of fourteen. After that he had caught a glimpse of her face at an official event when she came of age.
After that fleeting moment, another six years had passed.
Holding hands like this was something that had not happened in a full twelve years.
"Haha... You've grown so much, Yu Ya..."
"Brother has gained much more dignity as well."
Hyeok Gi-rin greeted her older brother joyfully, yet Yu Gyeong's heart ached. The very fact that she wore a headband and cross-dressed as a man, without even makeup, at an age when she should be blossoming as a woman, pained him deeply.
"I'm sorry. My power was insufficient..."
"Please do not say such things. I am living well at the Jeomchang Sect."
"...Yes. I have been hearing the news regularly."
News of Hyeok Gi-rin—Princess Yu Ya—living in the Murim had always been both joy and sorrow to Yu Gyeong. Hyeok Gi-rin, who stood out even in martial arts and lived as a martial artist recognized by all.
He felt proud that she had achieved so much through effort without resting on the Imperial bloodline, yet worried that instead of a peaceful and serene life as a member of the Imperial Family she was living a harsh life weathering every storm of the martial world.
"You truly accomplished something great this time. I am so proud. By correcting the morals of the people and punishing evil, it is no different from contributing to upholding the laws of the nation. Moreover, by gutting the villains and even filling the national treasury, your merit can be said to be immense."
Hyeok Gi-rin tried to deny the credit with a bitter smile, then quickly changed her mind.
Oh no—if Brother takes an interest in Master Ho for no reason, it could lead to big trouble...
"It was all thanks to Prefect Sama Yeom's efforts. As expected of Prefect Sama, he had grasped all the circumstances and was quietly waiting for the right moment."
"Yes, that fellow's cunning is truly reliable when he's on our side. Though sometimes it's rather unpleasant..."
"Huhu, Prefect Sama is working himself to the bone for Sichuan, so please do not speak of him too harshly."
Naturally the two continued their conversation centered on the events that had unfolded in Sichuan. Hyeok Gi-rin, senior disciple of the Jeomchang Sect. Yu Gyeong, the Emperor. With their paths in life already greatly diverged, there were not many topics on which the two could chat freely.
And Ho Cheon-an's operations that had unfolded in Sichuan were, without a doubt, an exciting story for anyone to hear.
Hyeok Gi-rin spoke only of how the incidents had developed, omitting the fact that Ho Cheon-an had planned the operations.
"Hahahaha! So the Tang Family's young master and Sama Yeom carried out a proper strategy! Overwhelming a small number of soldiers with a large force is the very basics of military tactics."
Yu Gyeong laughed heartily upon hearing the story of the bandit suppression. He had received reports compiled by the Eastern Depot, the Imperial intelligence agency, or seen it written in Sama Yeom's memorials, yet unlike the stiff descriptions meant for reports, Hyeok Gi-rin's storytelling was full of life.
"Have you by any chance heard what the Sichuan Wanderers do?"
"I looked into it on this occasion. They do rather interesting work."
Hyeok Gi-rin's story continued. How the victory parade had been held, and how the sects of Sichuan were adapting to the ranking system afterward—those were quite interesting tales as well.
"Huhu, assigning ranks that anyone can see in order to stir up competitive spirit. Not the sort of idea Sama Yeom would come up with. But its impact is truly remarkable."
"Indeed it is."
Hyeok Gi-rin told of the ridiculous things that had been happening in Sichuan because of the Hero's Headband and the waist sash, and Yu Gyeong listened with enjoyment. The changes surrounding the completed Bandit Suppression Monument—fresh news—and the sects' responses were also good topics of conversation.
She's truly living a completely different life.
In those stories Yu Gyeong felt not Yu Ya, but Hyeok Gi-rin. The life of Hyeok Gi-rin, senior disciple of the Jeomchang Sect and Jade Dragon Hero. Contained in those tales was the life of a martial artist who resolved things by swinging her own weapon, not the methods of a power holder who used others to handle affairs.
Watching Hyeok Gi-rin chatter away, Yu Gyeong's heart grew heavy.
"Yu Ya."
"So... yes?"
"Will you not return to the Imperial Palace?"
Hyeok Gi-rin's expression grew serious.
"Brother, I am living as a martial artist."
"Yes, I know. That is why I am saying this."
Yu Gyeong felt a sense of crisis. The appearance of Hyeok Gi-rin, who should be called the Jade Dragon Hero rather than a princess. She was happily living the life of a martial artist. And as for the life of a princess...
"Is there no man who has caught your fancy?"
"W-what are you suddenly talking about!"
Hyeok Gi-rin jumped at Yu Gyeong's completely unexpected words. Yu Gyeong found an opening and his eyes gleamed. Yes—acting as a completely different gender must be an ordeal. Her title is Jade Dragon Hero. Wherever she goes, young ladies who admire her follow her around by the cartload, they say.
"I've never even thought about such things, and there's no one who makes me feel that way..."
Seeing Hyeok Gi-rin's words trail off, Yu Gyeong... chuckled and said,
"So. Who is the bastard?"
"Huh?"
"What kind of good-for-nothing is that guy?"
"...Brother."
At Hyeok Gi-rin's ice-cold gaze, Yu Gyeong snapped back to his senses. Wait. What was I doing? Wasn't I in the middle of persuading Hyeok Gi-rin to return to the Imperial Family?
Yu Gyeong's son, Yu Chan, was fourteen this year. When Yu Chan turned twenty, the justification for installing Hyeok Gi-rin as emperor would be completely crushed. In other words, the succession structure would be perfectly stabilized.
At that time, even if Hyeok Gi-rin abandoned the life of a martial artist and returned as a princess, there would be no problem. But... if she lived as a martial artist for another six years here, Hyeok Gi-rin would become a complete martial artist.
Now. If he did not hold on to her now, the Yu Ya before his eyes was highly likely to live her life not as a princess, but as the Jade Dragon Hero.
Yes. Right now I am persuading Hyeok Gi-rin. To turn her back into a princess, a family is needed, and to establish a family, a man who will take Hyeok Gi-rin away is needed...
A man who will take away my adorable little sister whom I wouldn't mind putting in my eye...
Grit.
He had to endure it. It was the sacrifice of the small for the great. This was the only means to return Hyeok Gi-rin to being a princess right now. He had to instill in her the dream of building a peaceful family as a woman—something impossible for the cross-dressing Hyeok Gi-rin—and make her return to the Imperial Family.
"Haha, hahaha. Hahahahaha! So it seems there is someone who has caught your fancy after all! Hahahahaha!"
Only, a person's heart did not move solely as one intended.
"Haa... Brother."
"Wuhahahaha! Yes! Tell me about the man... grit... you have your eye on. This older brother is curious as well."
"As if I would tell you! I said there isn't one in the first place!"
Yu Gyeong thought.
I must find out who the bastard is and thoroughly thrash him... no—I must encourage the romance front with Hyeok Gi-rin.