Monopolizing Fortunes (110)
Monopolizing Fortunes (110)
"Th-that is not so."
"It's hard to believe a provincial magistrate didn't take bribes."
It was common knowledge that the only magistrate who didn't take bribes was a dead magistrate.
"If I am to be punished for not having been an upright official, I will gladly accept it. But my relationship with Do Tong-dal is not a shallow one bound by bribes."
Yang Su-pan told the Third Prince about the time Do Tong-dal had saved his life.
"Oh-ho! So Censor Yang is repaying a debt of gratitude?"
"It is not that either. Do Tong-dal is a man of outstanding ability in many ways."
"He appeared that way to me as well."
"Forgive me, but may I ask what happened between you and Do Tong-dal?"
The Third Prince recounted the story of how he had become entangled with Do Tong-dal that day.
"If Do Tong-dal had not appeared then, the wound on my face would not have ended so lightly. Thanks to him, I also went to the pleasure house...... But is that how one normally plays at a pleasure house?"
"Wh-what do you mean by that?"
"Stripping completely naked."
"Pardon?"
"It was amusing, but once the drink wore off and I thought about it, it was a bit embarrassing."
"I apologize."
"Hahaha! What does Censor Yang have to apologize for? Because of that day, I also incurred a debt to repay to Do Tong-dal, so arrange a meeting for us sometime."
"You mean you wish to meet Do Tong-dal again?"
"A member of the imperial family cannot accept free drinks from a commoner, can he?"
"But did you not say the drinks were paid for by the thugs of Beijing?"
"Speaking of thugs, that fellow Do Tong-dal has remarkable spirit. Those rough thugs were cowed by his presence and chased off without being able to move. I was somewhat envious of that spirit."
"Do you truly intend to meet Do Tong-dal again?"
"To ask him what I couldn't ask that day."
"What is that?"
"How I can become emperor."
Yang Su-pan was so startled that he swallowed dryly and broke into a cough. The tea he had hastily drunk was so hot he nearly spat it out.
The tea he had forced down made his throat feel as if it were burning, but that pain was nothing.
"Do you think it's absurd?"
Which of the two was he asking about? Wanting to become emperor? Asking Do Tong-dal how to do it? The former was a matter of possibility, and the latter was a matter of sanity.
"Are you speaking in earnest?"
"The imperial family never jokes about the throne."
"O-of course you would not. Then why are you telling me this?"
"Because I trust Censor Yang."
"What have you seen in me to trust me? We have not had any particular dealings, Your Highness."
"If you had said you did not know such a man when I brought up Do Tong-dal, I would not have revealed my true intentions either. But Censor Yang bowed his head to me to protect an Underworld thug. That is completely different from other officials who care only about protecting themselves. A man who risks his own safety for someone he cares about—that is why I decided to trust you."
Earning the trust of a member of the imperial family was a good thing, but it was another matter when that royal's goal was the throne.
"Even if you call me selfish, I have nothing to say. The wisest thing Censor Yang could do at this point would be to go to my eldest brother. Then you could certainly earn favor with the man who will be the next emperor."
"That will not happen."
He had no intention of reporting him, even if it meant keeping silent.
"Then we are in the same boat now."
Yang Su-pan let out a long breath and tensed his lower abdomen.
"May I ask one thing?"
"Judging by your expression, it won't be something pleasant to hear."
"Why is someone who dreams of becoming emperor so reckless? To reveal an ambition that could cost you your life for the trivial reason that I shielded Do Tong-dal. When you should be checking even a stone bridge before crossing, how can you achieve a great undertaking if you act so rashly?"
The Third Prince asked quietly.
"Are you worried about me right now?"
"Ahem! I'm worried an untimely bloodbath might sweep through the imperial palace."
"Even if I stay still, won't it be a bloodbath anyway?"
"I only hope my blood and Do Tong-dal's aren't swept up in that bloody wind."
"If you only want to consider your own safety and interests, you can go to my eldest brother."
Yang Su-pan let out another sigh, as if it had become a habit. Seeing his worried expression, the Third Prince spoke apologetically.
"I know I have unintentionally placed a burden on you. But this is not the time for me to take small steps. How likely do you think it is that I will become emperor?"
When Yang Su-pan gave no answer, the Third Prince answered for him.
"At best, one in ten; in reality, probably not even five in a hundred. To close that gap in possibility, I have to take risks."
"Am I worth taking such a risk for? I am merely a censor."
"There is also Do Tong-dal. In truth, the reason I resolved to stake my life is entirely because of Do Tong-dal. So Censor Yang also bears responsibility."
"No, why does the story turn out that way?"
"If a member of the imperial family says so, then so it is. When will you let me meet Do Tong-dal?"
"I will inform you of the appointed time separately."
"Will you tell the Minister of Personnel?"
He needed to think a little more about whether to tell Jeon Su-bang.
"I do not know."
"I will await your word."
With those words, the conversation ended. As he left the Third Prince's residence, Yang Su-pan looked up at the sky.
The sky, beginning to glow with sunset, was covered in red as if foretelling an ominous future.
"If I succeed, I'm a meritorious subject; if I fail, I'm a traitor. Fuck. This is completely different from my life plan."
He had hoped for advancement, but he had no ambition to rise as high as Jeon Su-bang. The power he currently held was enough, and bribes came in steadily, allowing him to live in comfort.
It was a life lacking nothing, but the Third Prince had thrown a damn huge bomb into it.
"That bastard Do Tong-dal came all the way to Beijing and is causing trouble!"
Yang Su-pan walked quickly toward the Jeonui Hall. Do Tong-dal, who had been idling about with nothing to do, greeted Yang Su-pan with a delighted face.
"Good grief, the Forbidden City is truly a dangerous place. I nearly died of boredom."
Yang Su-pan dragged the chattering Do Tong-dal to a secluded spot.
"What the hell have you been going around doing!"
He had dropped his usual polite form of address for a blunt "you," which showed just how foul his mood was.
"What did I do?"
"You went to a pleasure house with some young man a few days ago, didn't you?"
"You had me investigated?"
"You idiot! Do you know who that person is?"
"He was oozing nobility, and from the way you're talking about him, just as I thought...."
"He's the Third Prince! The Third Prince!"
Do Tong-dal was momentarily speechless.
"A r-royal?"
He even stammered, unlike himself.
"Yes! Why, of all people, did you have to get involved with the Third Prince!"
"Did I know that? Why was someone who's royalty getting beaten up by thugs on the street?"
"It's no secret that he sometimes slips out of the Forbidden City to enjoy excursions! More importantly, what on earth did you say that made the Third Prince want to meet you?"
"No matter how smart I am, how could I remember everything I said to that gentleman?"
"Still, there must have been something important!"
Do Tong-dal thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Dying in a fight is better than dying of embarrassment?"
Yang Su-pan stared at Do Tong-dal for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively.
"Anyway, the Third Prince says he wants to meet you, so prepare yourself."
Do Tong-dal, who had been studying Yang Su-pan's expression, asked casually.
"The Third Prince said something important to Censor Yang, didn't he?"
"Because of that, my head is about to explode."
"He wants to sit on the throne?"
Yang Su-pan was startled.
"How did you know that?"
"You've known me for more than a day or two, so why are you surprised?"
"Well, sure. This is truly a bolt from the blue. Why, of all people, the Third Prince with such slim chances!"
"In your heart, Censor Yang, you also want the Third Prince to become emperor, don't you?"
"Why would I! If I'm going to bet, I should bet on the one with the highest chance!"
"If that were your true feeling, you would have run to the First Prince first, not to me."
"That's what I'm saying. Why didn't I go there and come to you instead?"
"The bastards who want the First Prince or Second Prince to become emperor are selfish sons of bitches who only care about themselves. I'm glad Censor Yang isn't that kind of person."
"Fuck, being a son of a bitch is better than dying right now."
Do Tong-dal nodded with a rather serious expression.
"Hmm...... As I thought."
"What do you mean, 'as I thought'?"
"When I met the Third Prince, the energy I felt from him was definitely different from an ordinary person."
"What? Don't tell me the Third Prince has the energy of an em...... emperor......."
"I don't know about that yet. If I had known he was the Third Prince, I would have focused on that aspect. It's a shame."
"Anyway, you're saying you can see the energy of an emperor in the Third Prince too? Is that it?"
"Have you ever seen me buy drinks for someone I've never met before in my life?"
"No. Even if it weren't you, there are hardly any people like that."
"But I bought him drinks. Because I saw something special."
Like hell he saw something. He had only brought him along because drinking with someone was better than drinking alone.
"Oh-ho, is that so?"
Anyway, Do Tong-dal's lies always worked well, as usual.
"First, I'll take another look and make a decision."
"Fine. Please, don't make a mistake."
After Yang Su-pan left, having repeated his warnings, Do Tong-dal turned his gaze to the wind chime hanging from the edge of the eaves. There was not a breath of wind, so the wind chime was not moving at all.
"So Jo Pil-yeong is aiming for the throne?"
The name Jo Pil-yeong was more familiar to him than the Third Prince. His rank as the third son and the factions supporting him all made his chances of becoming emperor slim.
From one side, he heard a whisper saying, 'Just say the First Prince and leave quickly!' and from the other side, a shout saying, 'Are you going to help put a murderer on the throne? Are you that much of a piece of trash?'
If he just squeezed his eyes shut and said "First Prince," the rest of his life would be comfortable, but he could not bring himself to say it.
"Why does this kind of shitty thing happen to me? This is all because of that Censor Yang! Damn it!"
* * *
No matter how high one's martial arts were, feeling the need to relieve oneself while sleeping was unavoidable.
Like most buildings in the Forbidden City, the Jeonui Hall did not have a separate outhouse. So people relieved themselves anywhere and simply buried the larger waste in the ground.
"Aah―yawn!"
Do Tong-dal yawned widely, pulled down his trousers, and took a long, satisfying piss. With his eyes closed, his body, not fully awake, swayed slightly back and forth.
After finishing, Do Tong-dal opened his eyes while shaking off the last drop hanging from his member, and was horrified.
"Eek―!"
To his right, a dark figure was crouching with their chin resting on their hand, staring intently at his little fellow.
Do Tong-dal hastily retreated and pulled up his trousers.
"Wh-who are you?"
"I think I should be the one asking that?"
Only after hearing the clear voice did Do Tong-dal make out the figure of a woman in the darkness.
The woman crouching in the pitch-black darkness had a cute impression, with large eyes and a nose like a clove of garlic. Depending on how one looked at her, she seemed closer to a girl than a woman.
"A palace maid?"
Even if he was half-asleep, the fact that he hadn't noticed her approach meant she had definitely trained in martial arts.
"I'm not a palace maid, and you're not a eunuch."
"Hmph! Look at this attire. If I'm not a eunuch, what am I?"
"An assassin trying to kill His Majesty?"
Do Tong-dal jumped.
"Where do you see that?"
"You're posing as a eunuch with that dangling thing, so it's obvious you entered the Forbidden City with wicked intentions."
Do Tong-dal decided to go on the offensive as well.
"And what about you, sneaking around the Forbidden City in the middle of the night?"
"The emperor's second daughter."
He was so surprised that his question came out late.
"A p-princess...... you say?"
"Yes."
"N-no way. A princess trained in martial arts roaming the Forbidden City at night? That's a bit unrealistic......."
"What's unrealistic is a eunuch with a dangling thing. Should I scream and call the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
"W-wait!"
If he was caught here, not only Yang Su-pan and Jeon Su-bang but even Yeo Jeong would suffer greatly.
"How about we talk this out, Your Highness?"
"Pretending to talk while planning to kill me?"
"Absolutely not! Absolutely!"
Waving his hands, Do Tong-dal sensed a presence approaching from afar. It was clearly the Embroidered Uniform Guard on patrol.
"Someone seems to be coming, so how about we move somewhere else first?"
* * *