The Ugly Monster
A low murmur of voices filled the air...
Dong Zhuo's main camp was packed with soldiers from Liang Province. They had turned their horses loose to graze across the vast hilly terrain, and there looked to be a good thousand of them at least.
"What a weak little thing she was. If it had been me, I'd have knocked her flat before the warmed wine even cooled. What were you dawdling for?"
Guan Yu was still picking a fight with me even now. But no matter how high my martial stats had climbed, this was the first time I'd ever actually fought a woman.
"Whoa! Look, they hung up a human skin over there!"
Just as Zhang Fei said, a bloodstained human hide fluttered tattered in the wind from the tip of a banner pole. And it was a face I knew.
"That's Zhang Yang."
"Hup... Zhang Yang? You mean the head of the Ten Attendants?"
"I only saw him once when we went to the palace, but yes, that's him. The moment he got his hands on the Son of Heaven, he killed him right away. Not an ordinary bastard, is he?"
For Dong Zhuo, it wasn't a bad move. He already held the emperor, and at the same time he'd avenged He Jin—so he'd claimed both practical gain and moral justification in one stroke.
"Leave your weapons and enter. And you there, eunuch! After you've met the Prince of Chenliu, come find me. I need to hear about the situation in the palace."
At Hua Xiong's words we all handed over our weapons and stepped into the tent. It was less a military pavilion than a massive ger of the sort the northern barbarians might use.
"Wh-who goes there?"
The chief palace maid standing at the entrance greeted me with a startled face. Then she recognized me and let out a sigh of relief.
"Is that not Do Yeop? His Majesty has been waiting for you all this time. Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
The chief maid ran inside with a joyful face. The moment I pushed aside the hanging flap and stepped in, Yu Hyeop spotted me at once and came flying barefoot.
"Do Yeop!"
She flung herself into my arms as if reuniting with a lost husband and poured out all the tears she had been holding back. The desperate grip of her fingers carried a longing that cut straight through me.
"Hic... hic... I thought I would never see you again. Why did you come so late, hic..."
"Ah... you're welcoming me so warmly I hardly know what to do with myself. I'm unharmed, so please don't worry too much."
"Hic... But who are these people?"
Only after she finally lifted her head did Yu Hyeop notice the three sisters of Yu Bi, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. The three of them knelt respectfully and offered their greetings.
"Ah... I am Yu Bi, styled Xuan De, disciple of the Imperial Secretariat Lu Zhi and a native of Zhuo County in You Province. And these two are my younger sisters."
"Now that I look closely, you are the one from back then..."
"Pardon? Have you seen me before, Your Majesty?"
"Ah, no."
Yu Hyeop was too embarrassed to admit she had once slipped out of the palace on a secret excursion, so she pretended not to know Yu Bi. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei offered their greetings next.
"Guan Yu, styled Yun Chang."
"Zhang Fei, Yi De here!"
She accepted the greetings in a daze, but she was still full of questions. Yu Hyeop looked at me and demanded further explanation.
"The truth is, on the way here we were attacked by Dong Zhuo's soldiers and nearly died several times. But thanks to these three sisters, we made it through with our lives."
"Do Yeop? Why are you lying to His Majesty... Aht!"
Just as Yu Bi was about to object, Guan Yu pinched her side with perfect timing. Yu Hyeop, startled all over again at the news that my life had been in danger, pressed a hand to her chest in relief.
"You have done a great service. When I return to the palace, I will surely reward you."
"That's not all. This Yu Bi here is supposedly a distant relative of the imperial house."
I went ahead and revealed early that Yu Bi was of imperial blood. Yu Bi's eyes went round as if she never expected me to go that far, while Yu Hyeop showed her own curiosity.
"Is that so? What is your lineage?"
"Ah... Do Yeop, why would you say such a thing... It shames me to report it, but Prince of Zhongshan, Liu Sheng, son of Emperor Jing, is our distant ancestor."
"If we count the generations properly, that would make her something like an aunt to you."
"Is that so?"
While I was at it, I sorted out the ranks as well. Yu Hyeop merely looked intrigued; Yu Bi, wondering why I was doing this, seemed thoroughly burdened by it.
"Are your father and mother still living?"
"Ah... both of them have already passed away."
"Is that so? Then what office do you hold now?"
"O-office, Your Majesty? That is... that is..."
Yu Bi fell into complete panic at the unexpected question. Explaining it would mean revealing everything—beating up the inspector, begging Lu Zhi for a letter of pardon, the whole story.
"Yu Bi holds no office at present. During the Yellow Turban Rebellion she rendered great merit by suppressing Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun and was appointed magistrate of Anxi in Zhongshan, but she refused the order to pay bribes and resigned the post of her own accord."
"So such a thing happened..."
In the end I explained in her place. Yu Hyeop clicked her tongue in pity, but there was little a mere prince—not yet emperor—could do for her.
Not yet, at least.
"I think the introductions have gone on long enough. Shall we get to the important talk?"
"...?"
Just then, a woman stepped out from a dark corner inside the ger. A palace maid in court dress with her face smeared black—an ugly woman.
It was Chosun. The moment Yu Bi spotted her, she recoiled in horror and stumbled backward.
"Hup... An u-ugly monster!"
"..."
A sharp crack seemed to sound as a vein stood out on Chosun's forehead. Calling her a monster was a bit much, though.
And it wasn't even the first time the two of them had met.
"Y-Yu Bi? I have something urgent to discuss with His Majesty, so would you and your sisters step outside for a moment? And while you're at it, keep an eye out so no one eavesdrops."
"Ah, understood."
Yu Bi took Guan Yu and Zhang Fei outside. I lowered my voice and spoke to Yu Hyeop and Chosun.
"I'm glad to see you're all safe, at least."
"Glad? What is there to be glad about! That Dong Zhuo has taken it upon himself to confine the persons of the Emperor and His Majesty, and without permission he killed Zhang Yang. Even if he is an unlearned chieftain from the frontier of Liang Province, how can he do such a thing?"
"Shh! Chosun, would you please keep your voice down? You haven't forgotten that we're surrounded by three thousand of Dong Zhuo's soldiers right now, have you?"
Fortunately, Dong Zhuo did not seem to be watching the Prince of Chenliu—who was not the emperor—with quite that extreme severity. But Chosun's anger still had not cooled.
"I will never forgive you. You knew from the beginning that it would come to this, did you not?"
"I admit Dong Zhuo is pretty dangerous. But he moves according to his own political logic. He wants to seize a share of power in the court with this opportunity, so he'll soon open negotiations with He Jin's subordinates when they arrive."
"Dare he negotiate over whom? If only you had told us of the eunuchs' conspiracy sooner..."
"Enough, Chosun! Listen to Do Yeop first."
Yu Hyeop could not stand it any longer and closed Chosun's mouth herself. Chosun immediately stuck out her lip, glared with her sanpaku eyes, and folded her arms. Yu Hyeop asked again.
"You said what Dong Zhuo wants is power? But even if he obtains an office for having rescued the Son of Heaven, the officials of the court will not accept him. Above all, the Empress Dowager will never simply stand by and watch, will she?"
"Well... it shames me to report it, but there is only one way Dong Zhuo can surpass them all in a single stroke."
"What is that?"
Yu Hyeop seemed to have opened her eyes somewhat to strategy, yet she was still naive enough not to understand what I meant and asked. But the hint was already hidden in my words, and Chosun grasped its true nature at once.
"What a dreadful thing to say. Do you mean Dong Zhuo might even depose the Son of Heaven?"
"Wh-what did you say, Chosun?"
As expected, Chosun's mind worked fast. For an outsider from the frontier like Dong Zhuo, there was only one way to leap straight into the heart of power.
Make the Son of Heaven his own.
"I am only speaking of a possibility. I cannot know what decision Dong Zhuo will actually make."
"But is Chosun not right? If Dong Zhuo has harbored treasonous intent, must we not stop him at once?"
"If that is Your Majesty's wish, then I will do so."
"..."
Yu Hyeop could not bring herself to answer. Because stopping Dong Zhuo would mean nothing more than placing her life once again in the hands of Empress Dowager He.
"Your Majesty, I have words to speak with this man, so I will borrow him for a moment."
Chosun spoke to Yu Hyeop with superhuman patience. Yu Hyeop, needing time to digest the bombshell that had just been dropped, nodded weakly.
So Chosun and I stepped out of the ger together. Yu Bi came running straight to me.
"Do Yeop? There is no one outside, so..."
"Out of the way."
"Euk!"
Thud! Chosun shoved her aside with a cold voice. The moment Yu Bi landed hard on her backside, sparks flew in the eyes of Guan Yu, who had been watching from a distance.
"Y-Yu Bi? I have a few things to discuss with this person. Please wait just a little."
"Ah, understood..."
I barely managed to settle the situation and walked with Chosun to the edge of the encampment. The surrounding soldiers kept watch on me, but since I showed no sign of trying to escape, they only observed from afar and did not approach.
Whish!
The moment she judged the distance sufficient, Chosun's occupational habit flared up again. She thrust the dagger hidden in her robes and leveled it at my side.
"Ha... Chosun? Could you stop doing this already..."
"If there is a reason I do not stab you to death this instant, it is only because there is still something left to hear. But that will not last long. If Dong Zhuo truly plots treason, I will never forgive you."
"Unfortunately for you, Chosun, you're not up to it."
"What do you mean by... Ugh!"
Whish! Crack!
I struck the dagger from her grasp in a flash. My hands were so swift that Chosun never even managed to resist; her stance collapsed.
"H-how? How could the likes of you..."
"I told you I might not actually be such a worthless nobody, didn't I? Anyway, don't bother threatening me. With your current skill, Chosun, you couldn't touch a single hair on my body."
Of course, if she used the Beauty Scheme, I'd fall for it right away. But Chosun had her pride; she would never lower it before someone she had long regarded as far beneath her.
"Just what is your true identity? How can a mere clerk who ran a little shop see this far ahead?"
"That isn't very important. And just as you said, Chosun, the reason I hid the Ten Attendants' conspiracy and sent His Majesty all the way here was entirely so I could use Dong Zhuo's power to eliminate the Empress Dowager."
"I care nothing for what becomes of the Empress Dowager. But if he means to lay hands on the Son of Heaven, how can I simply stand by and watch?"
"Ah... but it's already far too late. From the moment the Son of Heaven fell into Dong Zhuo's hands, there is nothing you can do, Chosun."
"..."
Had I hit the bone a little too hard? Chosun lost her words and swallowed dryly with empty eyes.
But it was the truth. Unless we broke the Son of Heaven out of here right this instant, there was no way to stop Dong Zhuo's entry into the capital. And even if I, the three sisters of Yu Bi, and Chosun all joined forces, it would still be impossible.
"I will not forgive you. I will never forgive you."
Chosun trembled as she poured out her resentment. Yes, so you're going to hate me—that stings a little.
But perhaps because it had been sour grapes from the start, I felt no real regret. I let out a sigh and spoke to her.
"I know I look like a madman. But if we leave things as they are, the Empress Dowager will use any means necessary to kill His Majesty. I simply chose the Prince of Chenliu over the Son of Heaven. And didn't you yourself come here because you followed your own feelings, Chosun?"
"If I had known, I would not have come."
"So you would have just left His Majesty to die? Didn't you see just now? No matter that she is a queen or a high minister, she is still an ordinary child who frets and despairs when she is afraid. The moment she had to weigh the Son of Heaven's life against her own, she couldn't say a word, could she?"
"..."
Chosun had no answer for that. Right before her eyes I had laid bare the true intent of a treason that would make heaven and earth rage, yet Yu Hyeop had only been shocked and offered not a single rebuttal.
Because that was the only way she could live. Because into a dark life that had seemed endless, something called hope had finally arrived.
"Even if it comes to that, Dong Zhuo will make His Majesty a puppet and tyrannize as he pleases. There has been no such traitor since Wang Mang, yet you claim to act for His Majesty while throwing her into the jaws of such a monster?"
"Then we just have to deal with that, don't we? I have no intention of letting Dong Zhuo do whatever he wants with the realm either. So I promise you. From now on I will hide nothing from you, Chosun. From this moment we join forces and stop Dong Zhuo together."
"..."
Whether Chosun believed me or not, this much was sincere. I too had reached this decision only after long, hard thought. Because if we failed to kill Dong Zhuo in time, Yu Hyeop would not be the only one to suffer.
The flower called Chosun, mercilessly torn apart by the grinding wheel of history. I will never let you meet that end.
Perhaps all of this had never been for Yu Hyeop at all. Perhaps every bit of it had been for you.