Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 63
>Chapter Title: Consort Seo (2)
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The Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot raised his voice.
“Hah, refusing to kneel even now. How insolent.”
At his shout, Gan Yang, the leader of the vanguard, calmly steadied his breathing.
This was clearly meant to seize the initiative.
If he lost his temper here, the whole affair would be ruined.
‘No choice.’
They were the ones in a disadvantaged position, not Consort Seo’s side.
With that, Gan Yang dropped to one knee and bowed his head deeply, offering the utmost courtesy.
“I seek an audience with Your Ladyship Consort Seo.”
At this, the others glanced sideways at Mok Kyung-un.
Mok Kyung-un’s lips curled up ever so slightly, and soon enough, he too dropped to one knee like Gan Yang, clasping his hands together in salute.
Seeing this, the rest of the group followed suit.
“I seek an audience with Your Ladyship Consort Seo.”
As they offered their proper greetings, the Chief Eunuch turned his head to look at Consort Seo, seated beyond the steps of the hall.
He was seeking her opinion on how to proceed.
He could force them to prostrate fully for even greater deference, but these were martial artists.
Pushing them too far might spark trouble, so even in suppressing their spirit, a measured approach was needed.
Consort Seo raised her hand slightly.
The Chief Eunuch then addressed those kneeling before them.
“Her Ladyship accepts your greetings. Rise.”
‘...This isn’t what I’d heard.’
Gan Yang clicked his tongue inwardly.
According to Yu Bong, the eunuch infiltrating the Eastern Depot, Seo Yang-hyo had gained unchecked power upon becoming Consort Seo but still remembered the Heaven and Earth Society’s support and would observe certain boundaries.
Yet the atmosphere now was anything but.
She seemed intent on strictly enforcing hierarchies.
They were in a position to beg a favor, so they had no choice but to comply, but Gan Yang’s unease was growing.
“Please, guests, take your seats at the tables prepared to either side.”
The Chief Eunuch gestured to the neatly laid banquets on both sides.
The hall’s head seat was the place of honor, with the rest as lower seats.
-This is exactly why we avoid dealing with imperial kin or palace folk. They act like they own the whole world.
Cheong Ryeong spoke in a voice laced with irritation.
Having lived through the era when officials and the martial world strictly kept apart, she had no fondness for such gatherings.
Mok Kyung-un, however, showed no concern whatsoever and silently took his seat at an empty spot.
Once everyone was seated, a voice rang out from within the hall.
“Roll up the screens.”
“My Lady, how could we...”
“I said, roll them up.”
“As you command.”
The palace maids inside promptly rolled up the screens that had veiled the hall.
Revealed within was a banquet table laden to the point of bending, and a stunning woman in vibrant red robes exuding both elegance and allure.
Seop Chun nearly let out an admiring gasp despite himself.
Even past thirty, her captivating beauty was enough to entrance anyone—it was easy to see why the emperor doted on her so.
Moreover, as one of the Four Great Consorts who swayed the realm’s power, she possessed an overwhelming presence that drew one in alongside her beauty.
She spoke.
“You must be weary from the long journey.”
Gan Yang bowed his head in response.
“Not at all, my Lady. If anything, we are ashamed to have brought you to such a humble place.”
He was doing his utmost to flatter her.
But at his words, Consort Seo scoffed.
“Enough. This isn’t the palace, so spare me the honeyed words.”
“...My apologies.”
This was awkward.
He couldn’t tell which tune to play.
Flatter her, and it was insolence; don’t, and it was pretense.
They hadn’t even broached the main topic properly, so why was she so sharp from the start?
‘I do have one contingency measure.’
He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Using it would mean losing Consort Seo as an asset in this affair.
The Society had ordered them to exhaust every means to complete the mission.
That included sacrificing this card.
‘But it won’t come to that.’
To ease the tension, Gan Yang forced a broad smile and opened his mouth.
“My Lady, the roast goose at Hwayang Pavilion is exquisite...”
“I said no honeyed words.”
“...”
Her words left not just Gan Yang but the entire Heaven and Earth Society contingent stiff-faced.
Anyone could hear the edge in Consort Seo’s tone.
She still didn’t know their true purpose.
She only thought they wanted her authority to join the Imperial Guard’s martial display.
The cunning woman had countered by demanding they send junior disciples from renowned clans after the meeting.
Her reasoning: for the Imperial Guard or Brocade Guard displays, even the orthodox sects sent juniors from famous houses with resounding reputations, so it lent legitimacy to the recommendation.
‘She accepted, so why this hostility?’
It made no sense.
But resolved to endure any humiliation, Gan Yang kept his composure.
“I merely sought to lighten the mood with idle talk, yet it seems I’ve only disturbed my Lady’s peace. Please, forgive my indiscretion...”
“Enough. Cut to the chase.”
“Pardon?”
“Did you not hear? Get to the point.”
Gan Yang furrowed his brow at Consort Seo’s words.
He’d prepared gifts and planned to raise the real issue over dinner once the mood softened.
This abrupt demand caught him off guard.
“My Lady.”
“Why so surprised? We’ve already exchanged words on this.”
“That’s true, but to bring it up so soon is truly...”
“Disconcerting?”
“...”
“You meant to wait until the mood ripened for the real discussion, only for this queen to disrupt it prematurely without reading the room?”
Gan Yang’s eyes narrowed at her words.
Until moments ago, he’d chalked it up to mere temperament.
But it seemed otherwise.
‘No way...’
-Swish!
Gan Yang’s gaze shifted to Yu Bong, standing beside the Eastern Depot’s Chief Eunuch.
By chance, their eyes met, and Yu Bong covered his mouth with his sleeve, smiling at him.
It looked for all the world like a sneer.
‘!?’
Gan Yang’s pupils trembled.
His suspicions were confirmed—something he’d hoped was groundless had come to pass.
‘You bastard...’
As Gan Yang glared, Yu Bong mouthed words.
Reading his lips,
‘My apologies?’
* * *
Just a few hours earlier.
The Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot patted Yu Bong’s shoulder as he emerged from Seo’s palace.
-Tap tap!
[Well done. Have you made your report?]
[Yes.]
[Ho ho ho. Now Her Ladyship will trust you even more, Eunuch Yu—no, Supervisor Yu.]
[Supervisor? What’s that...]
Among eunuch ranks, the highest was Grand Eunuch.
Below that: Lesser Supervisor, Deputy Supervisor, Usher, and ordinary eunuchs without rank.
Yu Bong had been a mere ordinary eunuch.
The Chief Eunuch said with a satisfied look.
[Her Ladyship has ordered your promotion and a raise in stipend for this service.]
At this, Yu Bong bowed deeply, his face beaming.
“Aaah. I am deeply grateful.”
Deputy Supervisor, rank 5— he was genuinely thrilled.
He’d thought castration had doomed him to a life as a lowly palace spy.
But the Chief Eunuch had pulled him from that pit.
Eunuchs could rise too.
He could climb even higher.
‘I’m not the man I was.’
The Chief Eunuch had corrected his misguided thinking.
How could he end his life as a mere low-rank spy eunuch?
Yu Bong cautiously asked the Chief Eunuch.
[Then, Chief Eunuch... will you teach me the new forms as promised?]
[New forms? Of course! What’s a little martial instruction for my right-hand man? Ho ho ho ho.]
Yu Bong’s heart leaped inwardly at his words.
He’d only learned the inner arts and four forms, yet in a mere year, the Imperial Palace’s secret supreme art had made him stronger than Gan Yang or Ok Gi.
What if he mastered it all?
The Chief Eunuch gripped the trembling Yu Bong’s shoulder firmly, his lips curling slyly.
[There’s much to do for Her Ladyship and the Crown Prince. Keep it up.]
[I shall. Ever in your service.]
* * *
Watching Yu Bong’s mouthed words, Gan Yang sensed it inwardly.
He’d betrayed the Society.
Most spies sent in underwent rigorous loyalty tests.
A single traitor turning coat or becoming a double agent could unleash catastrophe.
Thus, field agents faced not just loyalty trials but seals, restrictions—yet somehow, Yu Bong seemed free of them.
‘Worst-case scenario.’
He hadn’t anticipated betrayal at this juncture.
Whatever Yu Bong told Consort Seo, it had clearly derailed their request.
No choice but to play their final card.
Then Consort Seo spoke.
“Bold indeed. Even if this queen views you favorably, to think you’d dare extract a prisoner from the palace dungeons.”
“My Lady, that’s...”
“That is high treason.”
“...”
Her rebuke muddled Gan Yang’s thoughts.
Words made all the difference.
Yu Bong must have informed her of their true goal in detail.
Gan Yang composed himself and spoke again.
“My Lady, how could we ever...”
“Silence that mouth.”
“...”
“You dare drag this queen into high treason and spout such nonsense from your gaping hole.”
“...”
“You deserve immediate execution without a word of protest.”
-Swish!
She raised her hand, and hidden experts revealed themselves.
They’d known of the ambushers, so neither vanguard nor rear guard was surprised.
The problem was the twisted situation.
Consort Seo’s lips twitched at their dismay.
She recalled her conversation hours earlier with the Chief Eunuch and the middle-aged man in gray official robes to her left.
* * *
[My Lady, why not turn this to your advantage?]
[Chief Eunuch, what do you mean?]
[Granting their demand could endanger both you and the Crown Prince.]
[Who doesn’t know that? But they’ve backed me since my noble days—they might hold even a speck of leverage.]
[So use this opportunity.]
Curious, Consort Seo asked.
[How?]
[You must sever ties with such rogues for the Crown Prince’s future. This provides ample justification.]
[Justification?]
[Yes. First, crush their momentum and break their spirit.]
[Seize the initiative?]
[They know how compromising this request is, so they’ll approach cautiously. Strike first, and they’ll be cornered.]
[Even so, will they yield easily?]
[Of course not.]
[Then what?]
[Once their spirit is crushed and they realize their demand is unreasonable, turn the tables—make your own demand.]
[My demand?]
[Yes. As Eunuch Yu—Supervisor Yu—said, they’re desperate to complete their mission, so they’ll accept anything.]
[Ho. Go on.]
[With their momentum broken, demand the life of either Prince Jong or Consort Ho.]
Prince Jong.
Second imperial prince and once the top Crown Prince candidate.
Though her son was now Crown Prince, Prince Jong’s followers remained a thorn in her side.
And Consort Ho.
She’d entered the palace recently.
A mere palace maid who, with no backing, had seduced the emperor with her looks alone to rise to Consort in three years.
The emperor still favored her more, but that girl was twenty-two and young, while Consort Seo neared mid-thirties.
Who knew when the balance would tip? She was the one she most wanted dead.
She’d tried several times to eliminate them both, but failed each time.
Prince Jong had too many allies, but Consort Ho baffled her.
[Have them take Prince Jong’s or Consort Ho’s life?]
[Precisely.]
[And if they refuse?]
Would the Heaven and Earth Society scum shoulder such risk?
It was dangerous for them too.
[You needed justification to cut ties anyway. Use this as pretext.]
[Ho. If they comply, all the better.]
[Indeed.]
[But then I’d have to aid them. What if it ensnares me?]
[Worry not.]
[Worry not?]
[If they succeed in killing Consort Ho or Prince Jong, tie it to the prison break crime and eliminate them cleanly.]
The gray-robed middle-aged man, who’d been listening silently, spoke.
[If so, we shall protect you and the Crown Prince from those vile unorthodox Heaven and Earth Society dogs.]
* * *
Consort Seo’s lips curved upward slightly.
Everything was perfect.
She was grateful to the Heaven and Earth Society for their material and moral support in reaching this position.
But only up to a point.
She knew their aid was to manipulate her and the Crown Prince from the shadows.
So, squeeze one final use from them, then discard.
To ensure they couldn’t back out mid-affair, she’d demanded top junior disciples.
‘Whatever happens, you’ll dance in the palm of my hand.’
Consort Seo shot a glance at the Chief Eunuch to her right.
Subdue them decisively.
He nodded faintly and signaled with his eyes to the gray-robed middle-aged man on the left.
The target: Mok Kyung-un.
The man nodded and half-drew the leaf-shaped sword at his waist.
-Shing!
He recalled Yu Bong—Supervisor Yu’s words.
[The vanguard has no real threats. But two in the rear guard are major problems.]
[Who?]
[Mok Kyung-un and Mad Demon Fist Master Ja Geum-jeong.]
[Mad Demon?]
The man had been stunned.
Mad Demon Fist Master Ja Geum-jeong was one of the Three Mad Ones, infamous.
Even he might need hundreds of exchanges to settle a fight.
[Ho ho ho. Fear not. We’ve ensured Ja Geum-jeong won’t come. But you must handle Mok Kyung-un.]
[Is he that formidable?]
[If Mad Demon follows him, he’s at least a level above.]
[Hmm. Surprising. Stronger than that mad renegade monk...]
Yet his sensed aura was merely peak mastery.
He’d heard the kid hid his power, but as a youth not even twenty, he doubted it.
A brat stronger than Mad Demon? Hard to buy.
‘But caution costs nothing.’
Even orthodox sects had genius juniors dubbed top talents.
Treat him as such.
No matter how gifted, he had experience and seasoning.
Stay vigilant, and victory was his.
Moreover,
‘If trouble, call for backup.’
His younger brother waited outside for support.
Younger and a bit flighty, but his skill outstripped the official’s.
-Swish!
Shall we begin seizing the initiative?
The gray-robed man moved to fully draw his leaf-blade.
Then Mok Kyung-un chuckled, picked up a piece of fried goose from the table with his chopsticks, and popped it in his mouth.
He chewed, swallowed, and said,
“Delicious.”
All eyes turned to Mok Kyung-un.
In this powder-keg moment, his nonchalant attitude left even Consort Seo scoffing in disbelief.
Was this pretty boy the Heaven and Earth Society’s top junior expert, as Deputy Supervisor Yu of the Eastern Depot claimed?
The kid seemed bold, but clueless about the situation.
-Swish!
Consort Seo nodded to the gray-robed man.
He fully drew his leaf-blade, radiating fierce aura, and advanced on Mok Kyung-un.
“Her Ladyship rebukes you, yet you act with such irreverence.”
“The food’s too good, and the talk’s dragging on.”
“Impudent.”
“I didn’t complain or anything—just tasted the food. Is that such a grave offense?”
“...Put down those chopsticks and kneel at once.”
“One bite, and you’re this petty?”
“Hah!”
So confident in his skills, eh?
Let’s see just how great.
The gray-robed man inhaled deeply, channeling his energy to eight stars, and swung his blade at Mok Kyung-un’s neck with domineering force.
-Shwaaaack!
He assumed Mok Kyung-un would leap back to dodge.
But,
-Clang!
‘!?’
The man couldn’t hide his shock.
Mok Kyung-un had caught his leaf-blade’s edge with mere chopsticks.
‘Th-this brat?’
As he panicked, Mok Kyung-un—ignoring him—glanced at Gan Yang, the vanguard leader seated opposite, and smirked slyly.
“Looks like sitting back won’t cut it anymore. Wouldn’t you say?”
[Chapter 63: Consort Seo (2)] End