Monopolizing Fortunes (129)
Monopolizing Fortunes (129)
Ju Seo-in came running over, calling Do Tong-dal by a strange title. The word "husband" triggered an instinctive sense of crisis in Namgung Seol-rin.
"Stop!"
Namgung Seol-rin quickly blocked Ju Seo-in's path, and the two nearly collided. Ju Seo-in scowled and asked.
"What are you?"
"And who are you?"
"Do Tong-dal's fiancée."
At Ju Seo-in's answer, Namgung Seol-rin's face twisted fiercely.
"What kind of bullshit is that! Who else would Tong-dal have as a fiancée besides me!"
"What? You're Do Tong-dal's fiancée? Who are you!"
"I'm the only daughter of the Namgung Clan and a Protector of the Red Tiger Society! And you?"
"I'm the Second Imperial Princess!"
"An imperial princess?"
"Yes!"
"Your name is Imperial Princess? I have no idea what your parents were thinking when they gave you a name like that."
"The emperor's daughter, I said! You insolent little wench!"
Namgung Seol-rin, who had been staring blankly at Ju Seo-in, looked at Do Tong-dal. At her expression asking, "Is that true?", Do Tong-dal nodded.
"I...... I see."
She was shocked by the other's status, but Namgung Seol-rin was not the sort to drop to her knees crying, "This lowly commoner has committed a capital offense!"
"Even if you are an imperial princess, you shouldn't go around calling someone else's man your fiancé......."
Fortunately, Ju Seo-in was not someone who cared about empty formalities either.
"Did you really get engaged to Do Tong-dal?"
She wanted to answer firmly, "Yes!", but her heart alone said that; no formal ceremony had yet taken place.
"In my heart, yes......."
"Only in your heart? Do Tong-dal seems to feel otherwise."
The two women's gazes turned on him at the same time, like daggers piercing his chest. This was a situation that had never figured into his calculations.
"First, let me make one thing clear. I have never been engaged to Her Highness."
"You have."
"When?"
"The moment I said I would marry you, we were engaged. The words of the imperial family carry that much weight."
"I never agreed to it."
"I made up my mind, so your agreement isn't necessary."
Namgung Seol-rin burst out.
"Where in the world is there such an absurd law!......."
"Older Brother."
Ju Hyeong-seon, who had been keeping as far away as an outsider could, flinched at Ju Seo-in's call.
"Uh...... yeah?"
"If I said I would make Do Tong-dal my Prince Consort, then that settles it, doesn't it?"
"W-well, ordinarily it would."
No one was bold enough to refuse when offered a marriage alliance with the emperor. But until now, most who became Prince Consorts had been sons of high officials and great nobles.
They were officials obsessed with office, so they never let slip a chance to become Prince Consort.
But Do Tong-dal was the sort who would refuse even if offered a government post, and he did not particularly fear the imperial house. He was fundamentally different from those who had become Prince Consorts before.
Ju Hyeong-seon's gaze slid over to Do Tong-dal. If Do Tong-dal married Ju Seo-in, Ju Hyeong-seon would welcome it wholeheartedly.
If Ju Seo-in, who was not only strong-willed but also trained in martial arts, grew old in the imperial palace, she would truly be a calamity for the imperial house.
If the current emperor doted on Ju Seo-in too much to marry her off, then once Ju Hyeong-seon became emperor, sending her away would become even more impossible.
If he tried to force a marriage on an imperial princess who had become a meritorious official, Ju Seo-in might turn into an assassin.
"Hm! Our Seo-in is not only a member of the exalted imperial house, but with looks like hers, she would hardly be lacking for you."
How nice it would have been if Do Tong-dal had answered, "I am overwhelmed by Your Grace's favor." He had not expected it at all, and indeed no such response came.
"Marriage isn't a matter of conditions."
Namgung Seol-rin nodded vigorously.
"Marriage is a matter of affection. It isn't something that happens just because someone throws their status around and forces the issue."
Ju Seo-in asked with a bewildered face.
"Do Tong-dal, you like me too, don't you?"
Namgung Seol-rin asked as if she were Do Tong-dal's spokesperson.
"Why do you think that?"
"Because I like you, and there's no one who dislikes me. It's only natural."
"What kind of bullshit is that...... no, nonsense...... anyway, that's absurd!"
"Then Do Tong-dal, do you dislike me?"
Asked that way, he could not answer no.
"It's not that, but......."
"Then you like me. I like Do Tong-dal, and Do Tong-dal likes me too. I, a member of the imperial family, have made my decision, and on top of that, the two of us like each other. What more do you need?"
Namgung Seol-rin wore a fed-up expression.
"This is like talking to a wall."
In the end, even Ju Hyeong-seon stepped in.
"Seo-in, this doesn't seem like something that can be decided right now. Personal feelings could interfere with the great undertaking."
"That's right. It certainly could."
"Right? So......."
"Let's just get married right away."
"Huh?"
"It's better to deal with personal matters quickly and focus on the great undertaking."
"An imperial marriage isn't something that ends with a commoner setting out a cup of water and bowing."
Do Tong-dal quietly added, "Commoners don't do it that way either."
"An imperial marriage has procedures that must be observed and requires proper dignity. The rights you enjoy as a member of the imperial family are possible because you bear such duties."
Ju Hyeong-seon rattled on as the words came to him, but it was not unreasonable.
"As you know, an imperial wedding involves more than one or two preparations. It isn't an event to hold right before a great undertaking. Especially at a time when His Majesty is unwell."
Ju Seo-in conceded that point.
"Then when do we marry?"
"Let's decide after this great undertaking succeeds. If it doesn't succeed, there won't be any lives left to marry with."
"Which is exactly why we should do it before we die......."
Do Tong-dal quickly cut off Ju Seo-in's words.
"If we simply do our assigned tasks properly, we will not fail. If we do our assigned tasks properly."
"I will do my assigned task properly. I already have."
"You handled the matter of the Second Prince truly well."
Ju Seo-in smiled softly at Do Tong-dal's praise. In truth, it had not been a very difficult task for her.
Entering the Second Prince's residence, whose layout she knew well, and then suddenly vanishing had been an easy mission for Ju Seo-in.
"What matters is from now on. Once the Third Prince becomes a candidate for crown prince, assassination threats will surely begin. Your Highness must thoroughly block them."
"Don't worry. I'm guarding him thoroughly even now."
"That's reassuring. Please maintain that until the great undertaking is over."
"Then once the great undertaking is over, you'll marry me. You promise?"
Fortunately, Ju Hyeong-seon blocked Do Tong-dal's awkward answer for him.
"There's no harm in discussing that then. It's not as if Do Tong-dal is going anywhere."
"But......."
Do Tong-dal gave Ju Seo-in no chance to speak.
"Let's get to the main point. What is His Majesty the Emperor's current condition?"
The physician in black, who had been crumpled in a corner and was suddenly asked a question, flinched.
"Are you asking me?"
"Who else would I ask about His Majesty the Emperor's condition if not the imperial physician?"
"Hm! That's true enough. But...... when does this great undertaking of yours end?"
Life in the imperial palace was evidently hard on the physician in black; the dark shadows under their eyes had descended all the way to their jaw.
"I'll end it before you die, Doctor."
The physician in black announced the hardships of reality with a long sigh.
"No matter how hard I try, more than six months will be difficult. His condition is like that of a man around ninety; it wouldn't be strange if he passed away tomorrow."
"Preventing a sudden death is your job, physician in black."
"I know. But if that went however I pleased, I'd be a divine physician, not the physician in black."
"Then call yourself a divine physician from now on. You have to keep him alive somehow until the Second Prince falls. If the emperor suddenly kicks the bucket while things are in full swing......."
"Ahem!"
The physician in black cleared their throat to remind them that a prince and princess were present.
"If he passes away, our great enterprise will either fail or have to be accompanied by a tremendous bloodbath."
"Heh—! I'll have to become not a divine physician but an actual god. Is that why you called me here?"
"No. I came today because of this guy."
Do Tong-dal patted Wang Du-sik on the back. The physician in black, briefly startled by that enormous frame, wore a puzzled expression.
"Who is this fellow?"
"The culprit who kidnapped the First Prince."
"Huh? That was your doing, wasn't it?"
"Starting today, it's this guy's doing."
The physician in black, who had been blinking, lowered their voice and asked.
"Is it all right to frame someone so openly right in front of the person involved?"
"Yes. It is."
"Well, I suppose...... making the impossible possible is what you do. But what does this big fellow being the culprit have to do with me?"
"Your job, physician in black, is to keep Du-sik here from dying while he's being tortured."
"You want me to treat him if he's about to die?"
"That's right."
The physician in black looked at Wang Du-sik. Unlike his huge frame and fierce appearance, his round eyes held pure innocence.
It was like looking at a three-year-old whose eyes said, "I have no idea what's happening to me right now."
The physician in black thought, 'This is clearly scamming an idiot,' then asked that 'idiot.'
"You understand the situation exactly and still intend to become the culprit, right?"
Wang Du-sik's eyebrows shot up.
"Who are you to talk down to me out of nowhere?"
"Huh? Judging by appearances, I thought I was somewhat older......."
"Fuck, does being older make you hot shit? Then the emperor should be the oldest geezer in the world."
"You wretch! I'm the one who's going to save your life!"
"I get along just fine on my own! Some scrawny bastard who looks like a flick of a finger would snap his spine comes along acting like he holds my life in his hands......!"
Do Tong-dal smacked Wang Du-sik on the back of the head to stop him.
"Please understand, physician in black. This guy lived rough, so he talks rough too."
"Is that so? Then I suppose I'll just treat him rough as well."
Seeing someone volunteer to be tortured and then act rudely toward the person holding his life in his hands, he was unmistakably an idiot.
"I'll say it again: I don't bow my head to anyone weaker than me."
By saying that, Wang Du-sik earned himself another smack to the back of the head from Do Tong-dal, but he made his stance perfectly clear.
"You idiot, there's something you have to do properly while being tortured too. You absolutely must not break easily. You have to hold out to the end and then confess as if you had no choice."
"I could just not say a single word."
Do Tong-dal let out a long sigh and gave a lengthy explanation of the operation. An ordinary person would understand after a few words, but Wang Du-sik needed not only to be spoon-fed but to have his food chewed for him as well.
Once Wang Du-sik seemed to finally understand, Do Tong-dal said to Yang Su-pan.
"It has to look like you're killing him, but you must make absolutely sure he isn't killed."
"Don't worry. He'll get a bit damaged, but I won't kill him."
"Then I leave it to you."
Do Tong-dal repeatedly impressed upon Wang Du-sik that he must never explode in the middle of being tortured.
After finishing his business in Beijing, Do Tong-dal sent a messenger pigeon to the Beggars' Sect and then headed to Henan Province, where the Hwangdae Merchant Company was located.
The Hwangdae Merchant Company was based in Luoyang in Henan Province. Luoyang, counted alongside Xi'an and Kaifeng as one of the Three Great Ancient Capitals, was lined with old-fashioned buildings true to its reputation.
The pagodas standing here and there were also antique, and the houses along the streets were old-fashioned as well. Even the people passing by seemed to be nothing but old folks.
Do Tong-dal's group took seats on the second floor of a tea house with a view of the Hwangdae Merchant Company.
Seen from above, the Hwangdae Merchant Company felt far larger than it had from the street.
"It looks like that one building contains a bank, an escort agency, and wholesale and retail dealers for all sorts of goods."
Do Tong-dal picked up on Won Dae-yeon's words.
"Don't you think they want to show that they're the center of Luoyang?"
"Would there be any need for that? If they were a hidden force, dispersing would actually be more advantageous."
"It must be confidence that they can conquer the martial world."
Jang Yu-seom nodded.
"Since the Hwangdae Merchant Company holds Henan's commercial power, a hidden force could be accepted by people much more easily."
"Unifying the martial world isn't only about destroying martial sects, after all. The Hwangdae Merchant Company is probably doing a great deal of charitable work as well."
The Hwangdae Merchant Company, as massive as the Forbidden City, had twelve gates, and through those gates, carriages, horses, and people streamed in and out without pause.
"Among all those people coming and going, there are surely members of the hidden force......."
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