The Nation Shall Guarantee Marriage, Funerals, Mourning, and Sacrifices - 5
After a long silence, Grandfather stirred and rose to his feet. "I've kept you waiting. Now, let's head to Sichuan."
"Yes, sir. I'll get ready right away."
Grandfather packed a plain-looking sword and five bottles of liquor. That seemed to be his idea of preparation, so I nodded calmly.
Why a sword, though? Still, as I nodded, my eyes kept drifting to the sword at his waist. Grandfather could summon lightning with a mere gesture; he rarely used a sword. And when he did, it was always a famed blade befitting a king. He had no reason to carry something so ordinary and worn.
Yet here he was, taking that plain sword. It made his purpose in Sichuan even more baffling.
"Yi Yeon is coming along too, right?"
"Yes. No rush—take your time preparing."
I glanced at his face—not the sword—for confirmation, and he nodded. Sichuan. A plain sword. Grandfather's own preparations. Traveling with his grandson and granddaughter-in-law.
Beats me. The clues only muddled things further. This was the first time pieces like these left me so confused. I'd just have to go to Sichuan to find out.
— Buoooong~
"You wanna come too?"
— Buoong!
Meanwhile, Buong-i, who'd been circling the garden, stuck right to my side. He must've heard his master was heading out and wanted in. It brought an unbidden smile to my face.
Back when I wandered aimlessly without a base, we'd traveled together out of necessity. But now we had Giwangjeo as our solid home. Even after Sichuan, we'd return here. Yet Buong-i chose to come along rather than wait. His loyalty to his master was overflowing—truly commendable.
Or so I thought.
— Ppiaek! Ppiiieek!
— Kkieeek!
"No, this isn't work. Just stay and rest."
— Kki-ing!
— Kki-oong!
"I said it's not work..."
I was just changing from daily robes to travel gear when the spirit beasts ambushed me—before I even reached my room.
It was tricky. Somehow they'd sensed me and Yi Yeon preparing to leave, and the spirit beasts scattered around Giwangjeo converged en masse. They didn't know where we were going, but they clearly wanted to tag along.
Originally, it was just Grandfather, me, and Yi Yeon—a small, swift group. Buong-i was an add-on, since he'd been cooped up exercising indoors. A breath of fresh air wouldn't hurt.
— Kki-ing! Kkii-ing!
— Kki-oooong!
"Alright, alright. We'll all go together—settle down."
But seeing them wail in front of me, I knew I'd have to revise the plan. It was either leave Buong-i behind or take them all. And with Buong-i's nose already twitching in excitement, telling him to stay home now was impossible. Even the gentlest spirit beast would feel deep betrayal at such cruelty.
So if we're doing something, we do it with everyone. It hit me like a profound truth. With the kids under my care, it was all or nothing. Favoring some was the worst option.
I'll be more careful from now on. Even heaven-blessed spirit beasts felt exclusion keenly—they'd rage over it. Our future children would demand no less, probably more. Who knew handling spirit beasts would teach me parenting?
Suddenly, our trio's journey ballooned into three people and six spirit beasts.
"If the spirit beasts insist on joining, isn't that an omen of good fortune? It means Heaven blesses and protects our path. Better to bring them along!"
Traveling with spirit beasts was more auspicious than troublesome in this era's customs. Thankfully, Grandfather—eccentric as he was—embodied the times and readily approved the six extra passengers.
"I ride this one?"
"Yes. Kki-ing-i won't budge unless I'm on board."
"Heh, loyal as can be."
And so we set off for Sichuan: Yi Yeon and I on Kki-ing-i, Grandfather on Kki-ong-i.
Tomb of Baekryeong, the West Wind Full Blossom
Ah.
Now I understood why Grandfather wanted to go to Sichuan.
Baekryeong. That was the name of Grandfather's sole wife—my grandmother.
He'd told me during my recovery at Akwangjeo after the Jiayu Pass fiasco. My mind was a mess then, but not so fogged I'd forget her name.
West Wind Full Blossom. My gaze shifted to the epithet before her name. A flower blooming gloriously on the western winds. Unusual for a warrior's title—almost alien.
Wasn't it Foolish Sword? A sudden unease crept in. Hadn't he said her title was Ugeom? That he'd inherited it after her death?
That was Ugeom.
"West Wind Full Blossom was the name we gave her."
"Pardon?"
Lost staring at the tombstone, I heard Grandfather speak as he circled the grave, pouring liquor.
"Fools called your grandmother the Foolish Sword. But that was the mockery of the dim-witted, who can only cry 'foolishness' from their own dull minds."
I nodded silently at his explanation. Grandmother had embodied righteousness amid the Yuan end-times chaos. A second-rate warrior who'd traversed the Central Plains. To worry or revere her trials was one thing; to mock her as foolish was the tantrum of idiots, as Grandfather said. Jealousy from those who'd reached higher realms yet proved more cowardly than her.
"Thus, after Great Ancestor founded the new realm, we called her West Wind Full Blossom. The winds from Sichuan filled the Central Plains with flowers—what a beautiful name."
"One could call it a posthumous title."
"Posthumous title... Yes, that fits."
Grandfather chuckled softly, caressing the tombstone with utmost care—as if afraid his touch might snap or mar it.
"Truth be told, your grandmother lived her life as a warrior and wished to die as one. That's why I opposed granting her a dukedom or marquisate posthumously."
How dare anyone demote the consort of the One-Stroke King to duke or marquess? He cackled, but his laugh carried a weight that belied the jest.
"My grandson and granddaughter-in-law. Come here a moment?"
"Yes, Grandfather."
After his long laugh, he called to Yi Yeon, who'd been quietly gazing at the tomb.
"This scoundrel who lived like a rogue became human thanks to a good wife. Of course, Un-i was handsome and diligent in his youth—unlike me—but with your grandmother's spirit, we might make him even more worthwhile."
"Gaga is already splendid without—"
"Keh, I know your heart. To grow truly splendid, though, he'll need to visit not just the Central Plains, but Goryeo, Annam, and the Western Regions too."
My hand trembled instinctively at his words. A joke, sure—but terrifying all the same. The Central Plains pilgrimage was agony enough; circling places with alien tongues and customs? I'd rather die.
"Wife. This is the wife of our eldest grandson. Astonishingly, she's Ak Hyeon-i's granddaughter. Doesn't she shine, unmarred by that fool?"
Yet his bittersweet greeting melted my fear away.
"Straight-hearted and wise like you. A commendable child who rose again after great trials as a warrior. Had you met, your souls might have kindred."
That brought a smile to my face too. Grandmother wandering as a second-rate. Yi Yeon rebounding from qi deviation. They'd surely bonded over conquered hardships.
"Of course, our eldest grandson endured no small trials himself."
No. The warm mood shattered with that swerve. Pitiful me.
His overseas pilgrimage quip already terrified and grieved me—now he was painting a warped image of me for our departed grandmother.
"This rascal roamed the Central Plains just recently. From Shandong to Gansu, Hebei to Guangxi. Everywhere, truly."
"Grandfather, I skipped Qinghai, at least."
"Brat. That's the only place, isn't it?"
Bursting into laughter again, he planted the sword from his waist before the tombstone and poured liquor over it. Now I saw: that was Grandmother's cherished blade. Proof her will lived on in him.
"I wanted to show you. That we have an eldest grandson who roams the realm, soothing the people like you. A grandson and granddaughter-in-law who conquer adversity unbowed, like you."
That was why he'd brought us—to introduce her new heirs before her will.
One bottle on the grave, another on the sword. The remaining three we shared.
— Ppiaek! Ppiieak!
No—four shared them. Yi Yeon wasn't much of a drinker, so she split her bottle with the Millennium Turtle.
Spirit beasts paying respects. The sight made me chuckle. Grandmother would rejoice at her grown grandson and new granddaughter-in-law. But six spirit beasts too? She'd probably just blink in shock.
— Kkii-ing.
— Kki-ong~
And the two white deer lay flanking the tomb like guardians, chins resting on the ground. Heartwarming just to see. Even Great Ancestor's mausoleum got no such honor.
From now on, these children will offer you ample memorial rice.
I smiled, stroking the tombstone again. They—not I, in my dotage—would remember, console, and inherit her. The young ones to lead the new era.
That's why I'd brought them. They'd surely grasped my heart: my plea for them to become the third Ugeom.
Next time, the sons and daughters-in-law too.
This trip brought only the heirs. Perhaps even great-grandchildren—who knew? A warrior prepares for all.
So watch over these children.
As you always guarded and protected me. As your spirit and will stayed by my side.