Monopolizing Fortunes (213)
Monopolizing Fortunes (213)
Ju Hyeong-seon waved a hand.
"I haven't committed a sin yet."
"Then are you planning to commit one?"
"Well...... calling this a sin is a bit much, isn't it?"
"Stop beating around the bush and just come out with it. You're the emperor, for heaven's sake—what in the world do you have to be afraid of?"
Ju Hyeong-seon braced his lower abdomen.
"Before I say it, promise me one thing. That you won't refuse outright, and that you'll give it serious thought."
"Of course. How could I refuse outright when it's a request from Your Majesty?"
"I want to marry Sect Leader Jang Yeon-seon."
"Absolutely not!"
He had refused outright, in the truest sense.
"That's not what you promised!"
"You have to say something that makes sense! How old do you think Yeon-seon is! No matter that you're His Majesty the Emperor, this is just wrong!"
Ju Hyeong-seon let out a deep sigh.
"I know that too. If only Sect Leader Jang were even two years older than she is now......."
"She's still fifteen!"
"Then three years?"
Women marrying at fifteen or sixteen were common—very common. Even so, the youngest age Do Tong-dal could tolerate was sixteen.
"When did you even meet Yeon-seon?"
"I had the window open and met Sect Leader Jang as she passed through the rear garden here. She was truly beautiful and clever."
"That my disciple is pretty and clever is a fact the whole world knows. I commend Your Majesty's eye, but what's not possible is not possible. Thirteen is far too young."
"I'm not trying to marry her right this moment. I know that no matter how urgent things are, thirteen is too young."
Do Tong-dal could read the earnest sincerity pouring from Ju Hyeong-seon's face.
"Your Majesty, you asked me to select an empress, did you not?"
"I did."
"Is it not that urgent a matter?"
Ju Hyeong-seon set his expression firmly.
"No matter how urgent, I can wait about three years."
"This is not solely Your Majesty's private concern. It is not the household affair of some ordinary subject, but a great matter of state—the welcoming of the mother of the nation. When it is already late, how can you put it off for three years? Do you think your ministers and the people could understand that?"
Do Tong-dal's logical words sewed shut the mouths of both Ju Hyeong-seon and Yang Su-pan.
"I too think Your Majesty is a fine person, and if I had a younger sister, I could send her to Your Majesty with a glad heart. But a thirteen-year-old disciple of mine is...... too young—far too young."
Yang Su-pan let slip in a very small voice.
"Then what about a consort in three years? Of course, even if she isn't empress, a consort who receives His Majesty's favor is no less than Her Majesty the Empress......."
"You're saying you'd take my disciple as a secondary consort?"
No matter how prettily it was wrapped, an empress and an imperial consort were as different as heaven and earth. And with good reason: if a son were born, the empress's child was all but certain to become crown prince.
The greatest duty of the emperor's women was to bear a son, and that meant future power.
An empress who seized that power would receive treatment second only to the emperor, and if one fell out of favor with such an empress, even an imperial consort beloved by the emperor could only suffer.
Sending Jang Yeon-seon to such a position was unthinkable. A woman blinded by power might be grateful for it, but Jang Yeon-seon was not that sort of person.
"Right, that was a bit much."
Yang Su-pan, who understood the inner workings of the imperial palace better than anyone, quickly backed down.
"Still, you could at least convey my feelings to Sect Leader Jang. I can't just return to Beijing without having done anything."
Ju Hyeong-seon's desperation pierced Do Tong-dal's chest like an awl.
"Understood. I will speak with Yeon-seon, but...... do not get your hopes up."
"Don't just speak of it—speak well of it."
"What is there to speak well of? To a thir.teen.year.old."
Ju Hyeong-seon muttered, "I should have become emperor three years later."
A servant's voice came from outside.
"The physician in black has arrived."
Although the physician in black had set out much later than Ju Hyeong-seon, riding a horse rather than a carriage allowed the physician to arrive at nearly the same time.
When word was given to show the physician in black in, the door opened and the physician entered. After first greeting Ju Hyeong-seon, the physician asked after the imperial health.
"I'm fine."
"What did Tong-dal say to make you come all this way at the cost of your own health?"
Yang Su-pan spoke.
"Indeed. Hm."
The physician in black did not recognize Do Tong-dal in women's dress and only cast a sidelong glance at him.
"The world is unfair. Why would beauties like that all marry a good-for-nothing like Tong-dal at once, I ask you. But this young lady here......."
Do Tong-dal dipped his head slightly, and the physician in black returned the greeting. Yang Su-pan, his mischievous streak kicking in, spoke while holding back laughter.
"This is Miss Do, who works here at the Righteous Chivalry Sect. She has been keeping His Majesty company in conversation lest he grow bored."
"Is that so."
"Hello."
The voice that came from Do Tong-dal's lips was the tone of a lovely woman.
"Pleased to meet you. Truly beautiful. Ahem!"
Yang Su-pan asked with subtle amusement.
"It seems Miss Do has caught your fancy?"
"Lord Yang, really. Asking such a thing in front of the lady herself...... What man wouldn't take a fancy to such a beautiful woman?"
"Shall I help you? We spoke briefly, and Miss Do said she likes men of a certain mature age."
When Do Tong-dal turned his head as if embarrassed, the physician in black's face reddened.
"Heh heh! I, well...... heh heh! Th-then, shall we?"
This time the physician in black addressed Do Tong-dal directly.
"What do you think of me, miss?"
Do Tong-dal crooked a finger to beckon the physician in black closer. When his red-painted lips came near the physician's ear, the physician in black's face flushed.
Do Tong-dal's lips parted.
"Sorry for being a no-good thug who married a beauty."
When Do Tong-dal's deep voice came out, the startled physician in black let out a shriek—"Gah—!"—and toppled over, chair and all. At the sight, Ju Hyeong-seon and Yang Su-pan burst into uproarious laughter.
He could not remember the last time he had laughed so merrily. It was a truly joyful wedding day.
* * *
Despite the protests of the three women, Do Tong-dal finally managed to remove his makeup. Outside was bustling with his own wedding, yet the man of the hour was busy with other matters.
"Master, what brings you to me when you're about to have your ceremony?"
He had hurried over because once the ceremony began, there would be no time to talk with Jang Yeon-seon.
"I heard you met His Majesty earlier?"
"Yes. At first I didn't know who he was and was rude to him. Did he say anything about that?"
"He knows how rude people of the martial world can be, so it's fine. But he did say something rather awkward."
"What did he say?"
"I'm not sure whether I should tell you this......."
When Do Tong-dal trailed off, Jang Yeon-seon grew even more curious.
"Why are you acting so unlike yourself, Master?"
"Hah—! It seems His Majesty has feelings for you."
At first she didn't understand what he meant and just blinked, then belatedly started in surprise.
"What? His Majesty has feelings for me?"
"In common terms, it was love at first sight."
"Oh my! How could such a thing...... That's absurd."
"I said the same. Losing his heart to a mere thirteen-year-old. That man isn't normal either."
"W-well...... it could happen. I do look about sixteen."
Jang Yeon-seon had grown quickly, and being in the position of sect leader had made her an adult earlier than her age would suggest.
"That's not exactly a displeased look on your face."
"Should I dislike it when His Majesty, of all people, has fallen for me?"
"You're thirteen."
"There are women who marry at my age, you know?"
Since early marriage was commonplace, such women certainly existed, but it was not a good thing.
"So?"
"What do you mean, so? I'm just saying that's how it is."
Do Tong-dal narrowed his eyes and looked at Jang Yeon-seon.
"Do you have your eye on the position of empress?"
"Ugh, I wouldn't take such a stifling position even if it were handed to me for free."
"Right?"
"But His Majesty the Emperor did seem like a decent person."
"Of course he's a decent person. But it's still not happening."
"Why not?"
"Are you really saying you'd marry at thirteen?"
"Even if not right away, it would be possible in two or three years, wouldn't it?"
"You know the position of empress is currently vacant, don't you? It's truly unprecedented, and everyone is in an uproar saying an empress must be selected immediately. It's so urgent that His Majesty personally entrusted the selection of the empress to me. In other words, His Majesty must marry by the end of this year at the latest."
Jang Yeon-seon grumbled.
"It's not as if the country will collapse just because there's no empress for a few years. What's all the fuss about?"
"The sooner His Majesty marries, the sooner he can secure an heir."
"What is he, some kind of breeding stock......."
"The empress must soothe His Majesty's heart and manage the inner court, and at times she is His Majesty's closest advisor. How could such a position be called light?"
The position of empress was perhaps as busy as that of the emperor himself. It was a wonder that Ju Hyeong-seon had not yet taken an empress.
"Then what do we do?"
"What do you mean, what do we do? We say no."
"Can we say that to His Majesty the Emperor?"
"We can."
Indeed, Do Tong-dal might be the only person who could say "No" to the emperor.
"I think I need to think about it a little more, though?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Do Tong-dal, who had asked, was startled when he read Jang Yeon-seon's expression.
"Don't tell me you've taken a liking to His Majesty?"
"Well...... my first impression wasn't bad. For someone who's the emperor, he wasn't rude, and I think we'd get along well...... and above all, he's the emperor. Heh heh!"
"You brat, do you know what the imperial palace is like? The scheming of the martial world is child's play compared to that den of intrigue. You want to live in such a suffocating place?"
"It's not that, but......."
"It's not as if you lack anything—are you coveting the empress's power?"
"They can give that kind of power to a dog. I have no interest. But honestly, I don't want to cut off His Majesty's interest with a single stroke."
It seemed Jang Yeon-seon had quietly taken a liking to Ju Hyeong-seon as well. The words "A thirteen-year-old, already gone boy-crazy!" surged up to the tip of his tongue.
"Are you serious? This isn't something to approach lightly with a 'shall I try it?' attitude. His Majesty is a good person, but the emperor is still the emperor. He is the supreme power, a man for whom killing ten thousand people with a single finger is nothing. If you approach this lightly, not only you but the people around you could get hurt."
Do Tong-dal's words awakened Jang Yeon-seon's wariness. As Do Tong-dal said, the emperor was practically a god in this country.
To Do Tong-dal he might be like a brother, but to others, the name of emperor was one that could turn to terror at any moment.
He was absolutely not someone you could date for a while and then part from with, "I don't think you're the one."
"I'll give it serious thought."
"I trust you'll make a wise decision."
As Do Tong-dal was about to leave the room, he reminded her once more of her age: "You brat, you're thirteen."
* * *
At that same time, Ju Hyeong-seon was having just as awkward a time as Do Tong-dal.
"What? You'll attend the wedding? Not as a guest, but as a bride?"
"Yes."
At Ju Seo-in's calm answer, Ju Hyeong-seon was at a loss for words.
"So...... are you saying you'll stop this wedding from happening?"
"No. The brides simply increase from three to four. The wedding preparations are already finished, and since even Your Majesty has arrived, my own preparations are as good as done. I just have to change out of these cumbersome clothes."
It was absolutely not a joke.
"If you marry him, Tong-dal will become Prince Consort, and it is national law that a Prince Consort may not take another woman as a secondary wife. Are you saying you'll break that law?"
"You send women off as consorts to the kings of other countries readily enough."
"That is a matter between nations. Tong-dal is not the king of another country."
"What does national law say about marrying at the same time?"
"That is......."
Ju Hyeong-seon glanced at Yang Su-pan. There was no way Yang Su-pan knew every law.
"It's an unprecedented case, so......."
That much was certain.
"Then it isn't breaking the law, is it? And Your Majesty ought to do at least that much for us. Both Tong-dal and I are meritorious subjects, so you should grant us the privilege of smoothing over such minor laws."
Everyone who had helped Ju Hyeong-seon ascend to the imperial throne had prospered. No matter how small their contribution, he had made certain to reward it.
Yet Do Tong-dal and Ju Seo-in, the greatest meritorious subjects of all, had received nothing. That was because they had wanted nothing, and there had been nothing in particular he could give them.
But now Ju Seo-in had found something she wanted.
* * *