Pardon Granted: Honor Restored and a Sect Born
To Yi Beon, Yu Bok-tong's daughter, I'd told Ak I-yeon a reply would come within seven days—but even that was a generous estimate.
Ppiae! "Good work."
Four days. Just four days after confronting a truth I wished I hadn't learned, a messenger pigeon arrived from Kaepyeong.
His qualifications as Duke Seon-guk are hereby restored.
As expected.
The letter carried by the pigeon contained exactly what I'd predicted.
After a fake criminal let slip the wrong words and became the real one, Yu Bok-tong had his title stripped and passed it to his eldest son. Officially, he'd died as a commoner. But now, the revoked dukedom was restored, transforming the commoner Yu Bok-tong into the resplendent Duke Yu Bok-tong.
The current Emperor had forgiven a minister who'd sinned against his grandfather.
Forgiven? That's putting it mildly.
He hadn't been sent to Haenam for actual crimes in the first place—he'd volunteered for exile on behalf of his liege.
"He seemed offended by the hair jest, but when the time comes, he'll surely call for me. If that Shandong fool doesn't, the Crown Prince will."
Recalling the words from Yu Bok-tong's will, I gave a wry smile.
As per the will, Taizu never summoned him—but the then-Crown Prince, now Emperor, had granted forgiveness. If Yu Bok-tong were still alive, he could return to Kaepyeong with head held high.
"Of course, by the time the Crown Prince ascends, I might already be gone. But ending my days in this peaceful, warm island isn't so bad. I've lived too frantically all these years."
The man himself seemed to prefer dying here over a triumphant return.
Is that why he wasn't called back?
Taizu and Yu Bok-tong had been close friends since before the great campaigns. Though the "His Majesty's sun-like radiant hair" incident bruised one side's feelings, their bond had reached a point where words were unnecessary.
So Taizu might have left him in Haenam on purpose. His friend, who'd sacrificed his honor for the greater good, wanted a quiet retirement—not flashy capital life, but peaceful days on the frontier.
Barring posthumous family contact? That was likely to emphasize: "Even founding merits can be crushed if needed."
But failing to lift the order in time led to this mess.
Taizu did pass suddenly.
A Hwagyeong master, Taizu succumbed quickly to accumulated physical toll from the founding wars and mental strain of ruling—faster than most at his level. No time to recall Yu Bok-tong suggests even he hadn't anticipated it.
"When news of the late Emperor's passing reached us, the elder beat the ground and wailed."
Yes. A death unforeseen not just by Taizu himself, but his closest friend. No matter the greater good, failing to attend his liege's final moments—or bid farewell to his friend's eternal rest—was a regret any "criminal" couldn't fathom.
He left decent last words, at least.
Still, the swift restoration after my report suggests Taizu instructed the Emperor: "Pardon Yu Bok-tong when the time comes."
Whether gasped on his deathbed or mentioned casually in health—who knows.
Probably the latter.
The delay until now points that way. A dutiful Emperor wouldn't ignore a dying father's final wish; he'd have pardoned Yu Bok-tong right after the funeral.
But with a vague "when the time comes" from healthier days? The Emperor must've pondered endlessly. Then Yi Beon's tale reached his ears, and boom—pardon granted.
A daughter grieving at her father's grave? Nothing more stirring for a filial ruler.
Previous orders barring family contact are lifted. Yi Beon, Yu Bok-tong's adopted daughter, entering Haenam is overlooked, and residence there permitted.
Kaepyeong's reply detailed not just Yu Bok-tong's pardon, but Yi Beon's status too. The duke who'd shouldered infamy for the realm was restored; his daughter permitted to tend his grave. A joyous, beautiful resolution. Everyone happy—or so I could boldly claim.
Except me.
My head still throbbed. Yu Bok-tong's will had been that shocking.
I mean, who in Central Plains history got exiled for mocking an emperor's stress-induced baldness? Search world history—you won't find it.
But Yu Bok-tong pulled it off. A one-of-a-kind exile reason, immortalized if recorded, echoing a thousand years hence.
No way I'm publicizing it.
I had zero plans to reveal this insane cause. The real will he'd hidden? Long since fed to Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i.
Some truths are best buried.
I handed the pardon decree to Yi Beon.
"Pardon... Father pardoned..."
As expected, she wept endlessly upon seeing it, overjoyed.
"The elder's pardoned! Now I can proudly engrave Duke Seon-guk on his tombstone!"
"Long live His Majesty! Long live! Long live! Everlasting!"
The warriors who'd bonded with her over talks also cheered the news. Natural, really.
Yu Bok-tong missed Taizu's end, but they'd guarded his. Granting and gaining that farewell meant their bond ran deep.
"Congratulations. Though circumstances forced Duke Seon-guk into temporary wild-man status, his merits are known to all under heaven. His Majesty knows it too—that's why he's restored him."
"Yes, it must be. Even I, dull as I am, heard of Father's deeds since childhood."
She nodded with a smile. Her tear-streaked grin might seem eerie, but no one frowned. Everyone here understood her heart.
"Planning to stay in Haenam now?"
"Of course. His Majesty forgave this criminal sneaking in, and Father's kin carry on inland. I'll live here with these uncles."
"I see."
Makes sense for her. Funds from the family aplenty, grave in Haenam, bonds with these warriors here. They treat Yu Bok-tong's adopted daughter like their own lady. Better than wandering the homeless heartlands.
"The house where Duke Seon-guk resided was slated for demolition—but that assumed no owner. Its fate's yours now; handle as you will."
"Thank you, my lord."
I turned to the warriors behind her.
"You said you guarded Haenam with Duke Seon-guk."
"'With' overstates it. We merely rode his coattails on his great deeds."
"Not just anyone can do that. Even riding coattails requires qualification."
Patting each shoulder personally, they bowed deeply, overwhelmed.
"Haenam's the fringe of fringes. Even Gi Gangwang and Dong-gu Wang, busy quelling water bandits and pirates, or Gwangdong's Prefect Pojeongsa—none spare it much thought."
"Unavoidable. They're swamped with duties."
"'Unavoidable' nearly drowned Haenam in blood and tears. You and the Duke stopped it—so you're as good as official troops."
I drew a pre-written letter from my bosom.
"As a bureaucrat, I salute your devotion and righteousness. A modest token—don't refuse."
A representative accepted it, puzzled but dutiful. No need to hide; unfolding would reveal soon enough.
"The state recognizes and protects your organized activities."
"P-Pardon?"
"Even as a criminal, Duke Seon-guk never forgot his ducal duty, practicing martial virtue and harmony here. You upheld that—you're true warriors. You qualify."
They gaped, stunned. Close to Yu Bok-tong, they'd heard elders' deep murim disdain. A bureaucrat sanctioning "organized activity"? They got the weight.
But no choice. Punish warriors who aided a now-pardoned, Emperor-forgiven duke? Undermines the restored authority.
They're not even taking tribute.
They handled their livelihoods, volunteering as militia. Benefiting locals, devoted to the duke—no martial law breach. Fine to organize. They'd operated quietly; no need for state funds. Leash them? That's for the Prefect.
"May His Grace's noble will endure eternally."
"...Yes, my lord! We'll live up to your trust!"
They prostrated as one; I couldn't help smiling. No worries for Haenam henceforth.
Left Vice Inspector General, Inspector Escort, and Recorder Escort departed for Guangxi. I owe them greatly.
They cared for me when I deserved drowning, reported my tale to His Majesty, even gifted the uncles who guarded Haenam with Father. How grateful can one be? A lifetime of repayment falls short.
"Miss."
"Yes?"
"The Left Vice Inspector said he'd recognize our organized activities..."
"Worried about sect leader duties?"
"Sorry to burden you. But as the Duke's daughter..."
His embarrassment clear, I smiled reassuringly.
"Yes. I'll do it. Sect Leader."
I'm lacking in much, mere adopted daughter—but Father's child all the same. Symbolically, I'm the safe choice.
"Decided on a sect name?"
"Well..."
He scratched his head sheepishly.
"None of us are good at naming. Could the Leader?"
"I'm no better."
"If we're all bad, Leader should. You're our chief."
From miss to Leader in a flash—amusing, but I nodded readily.
"Haenam Sect."
"It is kinda bland."
"So what? Substance over name."
He grinned too. Words said otherwise, but he liked it.