Monopolizing Fortunes (112)
Monopolizing Fortunes (112)
"The First and Second Princes are on a completely different level from those small fry."
"Then you'll have to change levels too. You're the type to use a chicken knife for chickens and a cow knife for cows."
"What I'm catching this time isn't a dragon, but it's at least an imugi. I'm not sure I have a knife for catching imugi. Of course, even if I did, there's no way I'd go straight under the Third Prince and pledge my life in loyal service."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Censor Yang, I think you overestimate me. Do you really think I could make the Third Prince emperor just by serving with utmost loyalty?"
"Of course I'm not expecting that kind of sorcery."
"First of all, the Third Prince's balls under—"
"Ahem!"
"Ah, sorry. His footing needs to be far sturdier than it is now. You're not planning to challenge for the imperial throne with just one censor, are you?"
"The number of people supporting the Third Prince isn't small."
"But it isn't enough, either. Then it's small. For the third candidate to become emperor, his power can't be weaker than the first and second at the very least. Even if it were merely similar, he'd lose out on order, and if he's weaker than them, even the forces he does have will slip away at the decisive moment."
"But we have something they don't."
"What's that?"
"You."
"I'm not your trump card! And I haven't even decided to join you!"
"Of course. It's a matter of life and death, so I can't force you. Haah—! If you don't join, I'll die alone."
"A man of censor rank playing for sympathy is against the rules."
"I'll die too."
At the Third Prince's sudden words, Do Tong-dal's expression turned bewildered.
"Why? Aren't you sad at all that I'd die?"
Do Tong-dal pressed a hand to his forehead.
"The reason I fell into this pit in the first place is all because of you, Censor Yang."
"If you hadn't saved me in the first place, none of this would have happened, so wouldn't that make it your own doing?"
"This is exactly like pulling someone out of the water and being told to hand over your bundle. Fine. In any case, I'll tell you one thing the two of you need right now."
"What is it?"
"Jeon Su-bang."
"Minister Jeon?"
"If you can't bring that man—the most powerful person right now—over to your side, don't even think about attempting this in the first place."
Ju Hyeong-seon sent Yang Su-pan a look mixed with hope.
"Censor Yang is Minister Jeon's trusted man, so wouldn't it be possible?"
"It will be a bit difficult."
"Why?"
"I'm his trusted subordinate, not his younger brother or son. Even if he cuts me off, there are sprouts to replace me scattered everywhere."
"You mean he isn't the sort to leap into this kind of danger."
"That's right."
"Is there no chance he could be persuaded?"
"It will be hard."
Since Yang Su-pan, who was closest to him, judged it so, it was probably accurate. Yang Su-pan asked Do Tong-dal.
"Excluding Minister Jeon, is there truly no possibility?"
"Censor Yang, you are Minister Jeon's trusted man. Do you think it would be possible to proceed with this while deceiving his eyes? If by some chance—truly by some chance—the Third Prince ascends to the imperial throne, what will Minister Jeon do then? He'll obviously be standing on the First or Second Prince's side."
"He isn't someone who would turn his head away from the greater cause entirely, but he doesn't seem like the type to stake his life on a slim possibility."
"So Minister Jeon doesn't like the First and Second Princes either."
"Those two have no personal charm."
"Ah! So Censor Yang and I aren't the only allies."
"Who else is there?"
"The Second Imperial Princess. Her name is Ju Seo-in, I believe."
"Huh? How do you know Seo-in?"
Do Tong-dal told them about meeting Ju Seo-in the previous night.
"It ranks within the top three most humiliating incidents of my life."
Ju Hyeong-seon burst into roaring laughter and asked.
"You said your martial arts are quite high, and you're telling me you didn't notice Seo-in approaching?"
"Did you not know that Her Highness has trained in martial arts?"
"Seo-in? Martial arts?"
"Yes. Her level would place her at least among the first-rate in the martial world. No, if we're judging solely by concealment and lightness arts, she surpasses first-rate."
"Who in the world taught that girl martial arts?"
"She said she learned on her own from books in the Imperial Palace Martial Repository. Learning martial arts from books is usually difficult, so if she reached that level, her talent is far from ordinary."
Do Tong-dal, too, would have taken far longer to reach his current level if those around him hadn't helped.
"That girl really does have an unpredictable side. But Seo-in is on my side? She did vaguely say she hoped I'd become emperor, but that's just a childish wish."
"She said she'd kill them if the First Prince or Second Prince became crown prince."
Do Tong-dal said it like a joke, but the faces of Yang Su-pan and Ju Hyeong-seon, who heard those words, turned pale.
Ju Hyeong-seon asked urgently.
"Seo-in really said that?"
"Yes. She said it as if she meant it."
"She means it."
"Ah, well, of course she might mean it now, but when it actually comes to that, she wouldn't do something that insane."
"She will."
"What?"
Yang Su-pan also agreed with Ju Hyeong-seon's words.
"Her Highness the Second Princess's stubbornness is renowned even within the imperial family. Why else would she be seventeen and still have no marriage arranged?"
Powerful families were one thing, but imperial princesses and royal princesses in particular were treated almost like property.
Depending on the family's interests, they were married off politically, and in severe cases sent to the chieftain or king of another tribe.
Most had their fates decided at thirteen or fourteen, and almost none passed fifteen.
"There were a few marriage talks, but she threatened to kill herself if they married her off, and His Majesty dotes on Seo-in so much that he kept putting it off until she turned seventeen. At this rate, she might end up as someone's second wife or be cast out for disgracing the imperial family's honor."
Yang Su-pan picked up Ju Hyeong-seon's words.
"Being simply cast out would be fortunate."
If the First Prince or Second Prince became emperor, it was obvious that Ju Seo-in's fate would plummet into the abyss of misfortune.
"That girl Seo-in will definitely try to carry out what she said."
"She's that unreasonable? Still, she must have learned as much as one can learn."
"A noble person must take responsibility for their words. That's Seo-in's favorite saying. Ugh...... How do I persuade that girl?"
"Why don't you just become emperor, Your Highness?"
Do Tong-dal scolded Yang Su-pan.
"This isn't the time to be singing songs of hope. If you can't bring that man Jeon Su-bang over to our side, there is absolutely no chance of the Third Prince becoming emperor."
Yang Su-pan let out a long sigh.
"That's my share, then. The board might get overturned early."
If he spoke to Jeon Su-bang and failed, it was only a matter of time before it reached the ears of either the First or Second Prince.
Do Tong-dal grumbled.
"People who could live in comfort for the rest of their lives if they just stayed satisfied with their current positions—why do they want to jump into a pit of fire?"
Ju Hyeong-seon spoke.
"I told you. There's a gap between what you want to do and what you have to do. I have to become emperor for the people of this country. That's my duty as a prince. If that's what I have to do, then what I want to do is be emperor. I truly want to become emperor."
"What you have to do is what you want to do, so you must be very happy."
"It's a thorny path, so it hurts too."
Do Tong-dal poured hot tea into a cup and didn't open his mouth until it turned lukewarm. The two men also kept silence until Do Tong-dal brought something up.
"Actually, I've been thinking these past few days."
Yang Su-pan asked immediately.
"Did you come up with a good plan?"
"I said I've just been thinking. If we can bring that man Jeon Su-bang over to our side, it's not entirely impossible."
"Really? What's the plan?"
"It's still half-baked, so wait until it ripens. If Censor Yang brings Minister Jeon over to our side, I'll tell you the detailed plan then."
He needed time to refine the plan in detail. Even just those words from Do Tong-dal brought a smile spreading across Yang Su-pan's lips.
"I knew you'd come up with something."
"It all depends on Censor Yang."
"Understood. But to change Minister Jeon's mind, I'll need a bit of your help."
* * *
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
Jeon Su-bang asked Do Tong-dal with a bewildered expression.
"This is truly rare, but all three of them have the aura of an emperor on their faces."
"Is that possible?"
"I've never read the physiognomy of an emperor's aspect before, so I can't say for certain, but seeing this case, it seems possible."
Yang Su-pan spoke.
"If there are three candidates while the crown prince hasn't been decided, wouldn't it be possible? The imperial throne isn't decided by physiognomy alone, is it?"
"If it were decided by physiognomy alone, that would be laughable. Hmm. So in the end, it's a matter to be resolved by human effort."
It was only natural that the First Prince or Second Prince came to Jeon Su-bang's mind.
Receiving Yang Su-pan's gaze, Do Tong-dal spoke.
"There is one peculiar point."
"What is it?"
"There is someone whose imperial aura is overwhelmingly stronger than the other two."
"Who is that?"
When Do Tong-dal hesitated with an expression that said it was difficult to speak, Jeon Su-bang pressed for an answer.
"Isn't it a bit late to hide it now?"
"It's just that this person has almost no possibility......."
Jeon Su-bang was startled.
"You mean His Highness the Third Prince?"
"I'm only telling you what I see. Since it's not something to hide."
Several worms wriggled across Jeon Su-bang's forehead.
"How certain are you?"
"As I already said, the emperor is bestowed by heaven. I merely say what heaven shows me."
"You're saying heaven has designated the Third Prince?"
Jeon Su-bang's head turned from side to side.
"No, no matter what, what can't be done can't be done."
Yang Su-pan spoke.
"Of course, my thoughts are the same. With the First and Second Princes' power so solid, the Third Prince? Even now, we should be grabbing onto the First or Second Prince's coattails."
Jeon Su-bang chuckled.
"Coattails. An amusing expression."
"Honestly, aren't there people stuck to the First and Second Princes' sides who can't be shaken off no matter what? Frankly, if one of those two becomes emperor, you'll have to prepare to set down some of your power."
"That's true. Still, my current position would be maintained, and if I can protect my life with a small concession of power, wouldn't that be the wise choice?"
"Of course. Then shall we go to the First Prince's side? Realistically, he has the highest chance."
Jeon Su-bang asked Do Tong-dal.
"Between the First Prince and the Second Prince, from whom did you feel more imperial aura?"
Do Tong-dal let out a short sigh.
"To be honest, killing intent covers the imperial aura far too deeply."
"Killing intent?"
"That's right."
"Tell me in a bit more detail."
"I apologize, but if I run my mouth any further, my life could be in danger."
"You needn't worry at all about what was said here today leaking outside."
"They say the day's words are heard by birds and the night's words by mice. I've already risked enough just by saying this much, so please stop questioning me."
"Ahem! You came into the imperial palace, read the physiognomy of all three princes, and now you're trying to play it safe? I thought you had guts, but you're a complete coward."
"That was before I read the First and Second Princes' physiognomy."
"Just what is their physiognomy like?"
Yang Su-pan also pressed Do Tong-dal for an answer.
"Our lives are at stake, and you intend to seek safety for yourself alone? Is what lies between you and me truly worth no more than that?"
"I was planning to tell you this separately later, but since it's come up, I'll say it now. I think it would be best if you resigned from your official post, Censor Yang."
"What? Step down from office?"
"Even if you push one of those two onto the imperial throne, you probably won't come through it unscathed."
"Me? a mere censor like me? What do you mean?"
Do Tong-dal's gaze turned toward Jeon Su-bang.
"When the head is cut off, can the arms and legs survive alone?"
Jeon Su-bang's face twisted sharply.
"You're saying disaster will reach me? If I push the First Prince and he becomes emperor, I'd be no different from a meritorious subject, so there's no reason disaster would reach me."
* * *