Surely There's a Reason for This - 3
Upon hearing the news that the Gu Gangwang Household's army was on the move, I immediately headed to the Right Censor-in-chief's office. It wasn't just anyone—it was the king himself up to his antics. Rather than handling a mere vice-ministerial matter on my own, it was proper to report to a full minister and follow their orders. Back when I was just a lowly Left Vice Censor-in-chief, I'd dealt with the kings on my own judgment, but that was only because there was no one on-site to give me commands. Now, my clear superior was a three-minute walk away. So, I had to follow the chain of command properly. A general in the field might ignore the king's orders during war, but a staff officer disregarding them would be treason. This was the same.
"Let the Right Vice Censor-in-chief handle it."
"Pardon?"
But I never imagined my superior would outright delegate it.
"Why so surprised? Honestly, you've had far more contact with His Highness Gu Gangwang than I have—both privately and officially."
The Right Censor-in-chief blinked, as if my reaction was the odd one. He wasn't wrong. Thanks to Grandfather, I had a personal connection with Gu Gangwang, and rolling around the Central Plains on official business, I'd crossed paths with him multiple times. I probably saw him more often and built more rapport than the Right Censor-in-chief, who stayed mostly in Kaepyeong.
"Still, with you here, Your Excellency, how could I presume to..."
"His Highness Gu Gangwang is like the wind itself. Rather than serving him by bureaucratic rules or customs, it's right to approach him softly and freely, like the breeze. In my view, no one fits that role better than you, Right Vice Censor-in-chief."
The Right Censor-in-chief smiled gently and rose, stepping toward me.
"So, proceed without burden, as you see fit. I'll grant you full authority—act as if I'm not even here."
On the surface, it was the warmest, most benevolent smile, a show of trust in his subordinate's abilities and experience, handing over complete responsibility. But I couldn't smile back. I'd read the harsh intent beneath that soft exterior.
He's dumping it on me.
This was just him shirking the hassle of dealing with the king by passing it to me. Sure, with "full authority" invoked, he wouldn't claim credit if things went well—but honestly, I'd prefer if he did. It'd be better if he micromanaged me, barked orders left and right, and then took all the glory when it succeeded.
Dealing with kings tires me out too, you know.
I might have more points of contact with them, but that didn't make meeting kings pleasant or easy. Dealing with superiors who could bolt anywhere at any moment—who'd enjoy that? Anyone who did would be the weirdo.
"Are you sure I can handle it at my discretion?"
I stroked my churning heart and asked cautiously. Please say no. Drift into something like, On second thought, leaving it solely to the Right Vice Censor-in-chief is too much—
"Of course. In the Dochalwon, nay, in all of Kaepyeong, no official can assist His Highness better than you."
Alas, my last hope crumbled into futile wishing. What a tragedy. If those with frequent kingly contact kept monopolizing it just because of that, officials without such ties would never even glimpse a king's face their whole lives. Getting noticed or earning favor leads to promotions—denying others that chance? It was wealth begetting wealth, poverty breeding poverty. Truly lamentable.
After receiving this "full authority" hot potato from the Right Censor-in-chief, I scribbled off another letter to Gu Gangwang. It felt oddly like we'd become pen pals. Exchanging letters of friendship with an elder twice my age—what was this absurdity?
Frustrating as hell.
A conversation that could wrap in five minutes face-to-face now dragged through letters, driving me mad. I couldn't write novels, either. Even express couriers took hours to reach Gu Gangwang, and replies took more hours still. What was the point?
Might as well go see him in person—
Crazy talk.
I slapped my cheek hard, snapping out of it. Yun-ah, Han Un. You lunatic. How could you even think of leaving Kaepyeong voluntarily after finally getting in? Setting a precedent like "It's frustrating, so I'll go myself" would label me the wandering Right Vice Censor-in-chief forever. Unacceptable. I wasn't jumping into self-made hell. Plus, cementing "Right Vice Censor-in-chief = frequent field trips" would screw over my successors too.
Endure it.
So, endure. Even if it chafed, even if I itched to rush to Gu Gangwang and hear it straight—hold back. I couldn't sacrifice my future for a moment's relief.
...But maybe just once wouldn't hurt? This wasn't some 20th-century long-distance romance; conversing by letter was ridiculous. No, no. Don't waver. Overcoming this frustration was key to a smooth bureaucratic life.
A chuckle escaped me unbidden. I'd hoped it wasn't true, but whenever I wished otherwise, it inevitably was.
"Adjutant."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"It seems it really is, doesn't it?"
"Certain, Your Highness. If I'm mistaken, I'll gouge out my eyes and retire to the wilds."
I clicked my tongue at my adjutant's ironclad certainty. No need to go that far—I knew it too. The tomb the water bandits used as a base was unmistakably Hwanam King Yeongpo's. The grave of a rebel who'd defied Emperor Taizu and been crushed.
They actually pulled this off.
Impressive, even. Recovering a traitor's corpse was life-risking enough; building a massive tomb like this? Monumental. Yet they'd done it—in Gu Gang, Hwanam King's hometown, no less. Madness achieved.
To think this was under my nose.
A sigh slipped out. Right beside me, who'd received the title of Gu Gangwang from the Emperor, lay the tomb of the once-called Gu Gangwang rebel. The title derived from the region, so overlap was inevitable. And the rebellion happened during his Hwanam King phase, not Gu Gangwang. Still, it grated—like I was the one who'd rebelled and lost his head.
"Adjutant. I'm burning to excavate this thing. You feel it too?"
"If I were Gu Gang Duke or Gu Gang Marquis, I'd feel the same, Your Highness."
His words eased my mind. I wasn't overreacting.
"But it's huge, so full excavation might be tough. Better to dig quick, grab what we can, and rebury it."
"I see."
"Doubtful the corpse is even inside. Could just be relics buried with a 'tomb' claim."
Made sense—I nodded. Tombs didn't require bodies; old clothes or heirlooms sufficed.
"Hmmmmm."
"What is it?"
"This. How long to excavate?"
The adjutant scanned the tomb. Even the aboveground parts rivaled a manor house's main hall. Astonishing it'd stayed hidden so long. Tombs devour the underground; this surface hint meant unimaginable depths.
"Not time—feasibility first."
"Ugh."
Not the answer I liked.
"Even a commoner's tomb needs expertise. This scale? Forget it. Sadly, the Gu Gangwang Household lacks excavation specialists."
"Seek Shaanxi's help?"
"They'd be similar. Across Daesong, the only recent case was Baek Qi's tomb in Shaanxi..."
The adjutant trailed off, turning his head. Coincidentally, so did I—in the same direction.
"...Your Highness?"
The arriving Inspector flinched under our stares, but that was secondary.
Baek Qi's tomb.
The Shaanxi find yielding rich artifacts. I'd paid little heed from afar, but if memory served, during that excavation—
Han Un was there.
What timing. An acquaintance who was an excavation expert—Baek Qi's tomb, no less. General Baek Qi of Wuan rivaled Hwanam King Yeongpo; difficulty should match.
"You. Write as I say and send to Han Un."
"Ah, yes! Your Highness!"
I rarely summoned Han Un lightly, but this was unavoidable. Couldn't leave Hwanam King's tomb be. Plenty of grave goods to sweeten the deal—he wouldn't mind. King's tomb? Bound to have valuables.
"Pfft."
Laughter bubbled up despite myself.
The dead Hwanam King had screwed over the living crown prince.
Why couldn't this tomb stay hidden until I'm dead?
Trembling, I flung the letter away. Mere paper, it barely flew before flopping nose-level. Forcing the hated words back into view.
A massive tomb of Hwanam King Yeongpo discovered near Gu Gang. Planning large-scale excavation; require assistance from Right Vice Censor-in-chief who excavated General Baek Qi of Wuan's tomb in Shaanxi.
Damn it all.
I roughly scrubbed my dry face and sighed. Sent by an Inspector, but effectively from Gu Gangwang. What bureaucrat refuses a superior's direct aid request? The Inspector just penned Gu Gangwang's demand. Rationally, I got it—Gu Gangwang needing my help, the need for meticulous excavation of Hwanam King's tomb. But head and heart are worlds apart. Understanding didn't mean acceptance.
I... don't wanna go...
Hwanam King's tomb. Did it really need excavating? We'd ignored it this long—why not keep pretending? Someone, please say it.