Wedding Over Tombs - 1
More than tombs, a wedding. A scholar's letter that made my eyes and head throb just looking at it—clearly meant to be read, yet it stung my ears too. A bizarre missive claiming that the weapons of the King of Huainan and the Overlord of the Western Chu vibrated and resonated with light when placed in the same room. Honestly, I had to wonder why they'd sent this to me. I'd only been dragged out every time a tomb was discovered by sheer coincidence; I wasn't some archaeologist with deep knowledge or interest in the field. If spirit beasts hadn't stuck around me, I'd have stayed in Kaepyeong buried in paperwork, tomb or no tomb.
Making me uneasy for no reason. A primal fear bubbled up. If this letter reached my hands, and word got out that weapons from the old Chu overlords were reacting to each other, wouldn't that mean we had to hunt down tombs of other Chu warriors too? Based on the pattern so far, this screamed linked quest. If it reached the Emperor's ears, he might say something like, "We should find the other weapons too, right?"
The silver lining? Tombs don't pop up just because you want them to. Finding the King of Huainan and Overlord of the Western Chu's graves was coincidence stacked on coincidence.
They wouldn't send me on a Central Plains pilgrimage to dig up tombs, would they? Wu Anjun Bai Qi, King of Huainan Xiang Yu, Overlord of the Western Chu Xiang Yu. All figures from the Warring States era, roughly two thousand years ago. Their tombs had been buried for millennia. Tombs only surface through layer upon layer of sheer luck—deliberately hunting for uncertain graves of other Chu warriors? That's no way to treat people. A waste of manpower, time, and resources.
Just send a polite reply. I steeled myself. The scholar had probably sent it as thanks for delivering the Overlord of the Western Chu's martial arts manual. A courtesy in return for the treasure I'd brought him—sharing intriguing info.
It was intriguing, as long as no one made a fuss about excavating more tombs. Priceless grave goods from separate sites reacting to each other. I had no idea the principle behind it, but it was fascinating. Maybe the weapons grew stronger near each other, and gathering Yong Je or Jong Ri-mal's gear would amplify them further. Or collecting them all might reveal a treasure map to some legendary artifact.
They'll surface when the time is right. Of course, neither Yong Je's nor Jong Ri-mal's tomb was something you'd unearth digging up the local hillside. Just wait with the mindset that they'd appear someday.
Your letter was truly fascinating and extraordinary. Had you not cared for and managed the grave goods with such affection, we might never have witnessed this anomaly in our lifetimes.
So my reply to the scholar was the textbook mix: measured gratitude, encouragement, and praise. Yeah, that should do it. He surely hadn't sent it hoping I'd go tomb-hunting for other Chu warriors.
...Right? He wouldn't have, would he?
Days passed since exchanging letters with the scholar, but no imperial edict came down to the Dochalwon. Even though his report must have reached the Emperor's ears, there was zero reaction.
What a relief. The Emperor truly was sensible, wise, and compassionate. He wouldn't torment an innocent official over some dubious, unconfirmed tomb.
A man who commanded the Four Auspicious Beasts and Four Evils was bound to be different.
Thank goodness both the first and second Emperors are sane. I let out an unconscious sigh of relief. History was full of cases where a capable founder built a nation, only for the second-generation ruler—idiot or tyrant—to ruin it. That's why you saw those miraculous "Taizu, Tyrant, Last Emperor" trios in Central Plains chronicles, short-lived dynasties that burned bright and fast.
But Great Song's second Emperor was far from tyrant or fool. A true blessing for the realm.
"The Emperor's competence must be why spirit beasts flock here."
- Shiiik?
"Glad to meet you? Don't mind me, keep eating."
- Shiiik!
Samshik tilted its heads at my mutter, then plunged all three back into the dish.
Eats well. A heartwarming sight that brought a smile to my face. I'd asked Baek-su-mun for some eggs, and gave one to Samshik—it was still the ultimate delicacy, past and present.
At this rate, should I stop requesting deliveries from Yunnan sects and produce them in-house in Kaepyeong? Asking for shipments every time was a hassle, and sending eggs from Yunnan to Kaepyeong wasn't easy either.
No. I pondered seriously but scrapped the idea. From memory, the ingredients were bird eggs bought from markets. Faster to just order finished products—and generously compensate Baek-su-mun for their trouble.
- Shiiik!
"Just one. Overeating gives you a tummy ache."
- Shiiik...
Samshik had polished it off already, gazing up with sparkling eyes. I chuckled and stroked its heads.
I wanted to stuff Samshik silly too. After its starring role in the King of Huainan excavation, how could I skimp? But these eggs weren't mass-producible; rationing was key. Plus, Samshik's mysterious constitution ballooned its size with overeating. Unless I wanted to collapse the Dochalwon offices, restraint was necessary.
"One more tomorrow, so hang in there."
- Shiiik!
- Sieeek!
- Shiuuuuk!
Samshik's sulky demeanor vanished into joyful wriggling. Another reflexive smile. Please, our Samshik, skip the teenage angst and stay pure and simple forever.
The vague wedding loomed just days away now. Sudden wedding, sudden fiancée. Not being flustered would be weirder.
Even an unexpected political marriage brought no complaints. No woman already in my heart, and my fiancée, Assistant Jeong Sa-yeon, wasn't prickly—she was capable and diligent.
If anything, she's too good for me. First impression: solid official. Like me, she'd buried herself in work and missed her prime marriage window—subtle kinship there.
Then I saw the human behind the bureaucrat. Already favorably inclined, focusing on her personal side revealed much. Person to person, beyond official roles, it was nice.
After that, I saw the woman in Jeong Sa-yeon. Even unwillingly, she'd be my lifelong partner. Naturally, I should feel interest, affection, love.
Thus, she entered my heart. Truth be told, it was fondness for a good person more than romantic love yet—but our time together would be long indeed. Just a matter of time before fondness bloomed into love.
"If it's too embarrassing for you to use, give it to your bride-to-be."
Suddenly, the elixir from the Overlord of the Western Chu tomb excavation came to mind—given by Grandfather. I'd traded him the once-in-a-lifetime Public Appraisal Oil, reaching Super Peak thanks to it. Accepting another elixir felt shameless.
But Grandfather insisted it was for my wife. Effectively a wedding gift, so I couldn't refuse despite the embarrassment.
She mentioned fatigue lately. I slipped out the small case from my bosom. Elixirs boosted inner energy—its hallmark effect, hence the craving—but also relieved physical and mental fatigue, surging vitality. Healthier body went without saying.
That's why I accepted. To save Grandfather's face on the wedding gift. Though I'd paused duties pre-wedding like her, lingering fatigue needed addressing.
Can't have her dazed through our one-and-only wedding. The Jeong elders had called for a pre-wedding meal. Drop the elixir at their estate, confirm she took it, then head back. Couldn't keep future in-laws waiting.
I aimed to leave leisurely, but...
- Kki-ing?
- Kki-oong~
"Why are you two here...?"
The estate gates swung open, and Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i bounded up in greeting. They'd been about to headbutt the doors when I appeared—startled, evidently.
Shock faded quick. They nuzzled close, licking my face.
"You two came alone? What's the deal?"
I stroked their necks and heads as I spoke. If Grandfather visited, their company made sense. But just them, sans Grandfather?
Runaways? Ridiculous notion, swiftly dismissed. They'd never part from him, let alone seek me.
A walk? Most plausible. Better than eloping—
Hm? A pouch on Kki-ing-i's neck caught my eye.
"Something from Grandfather?"
- Kki-ing!
Pointing at it, Kki-ing-i bobbed its head eagerly.
Indeed. Neither runaway nor stroll—just a simple errand. Mystery solved, I untied the pouch with eased mind.
Revealing one letter.
The bond between us, between House Giwang and House Jeong, goes beyond words. Plus, Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i have spent so much time with you. They'll grace your wedding too, so discuss with both families how to feature them. At your request, they'll obey happily.
Grandfather's letter brimmed with his unique consideration.
A wedding graced by Baeknok spirit beasts. It'd be quite the spectacle.