Chapter 166
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: The Night of the Coup
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“Forbidding private audiences?”
Lee Jiseok, in his role as Grand Prince Suyang, spoke. His sheer presence silenced the other ministers. A cold silence fell over the set.
***
An investor who had come to observe the filming of *Yeok* asked the staff member guiding him. He was the foreign branch manager of Plus+ Korea. The plan was for the movie to be uploaded to Plus+ immediately after its theatrical run.
While there were many other streaming sites, Plus+ knew a good thing when they saw it. They had invested an amount that exceeded all expectations and promised zero interference.
Still, curious about the progress, Plus+ had requested a set visit, and Director Woo Jeonghan had arranged it for today.
‘People who give you lots of money and don’t meddle are the best.’
“What is a private audience?”
“Ah. It refers to a low-ranking official visiting the home of a high-ranking one. It was a situation where bribery could occur, so it had been forbidden for a long time. In this scene, it’s being forbidden to prevent factions from forming around the other princes while the king is still young.”
“I see.”
It was only natural for a king to be wary of his own bloodline, especially when the king was young and his relatives were adults. The Plus+ Korea branch manager stroked his chin.
‘Since it’s a historical film…’
Background knowledge was necessary. *Naeuiwon* hadn't required much historical context, as it felt more like a slice of daily life in the Joseon royal court.
But *Yeok* was different. Political situations and background knowledge were essential.
‘Then we’ll just have to make one more.’
If viewers wanted to experience the film more fully, they would surely watch a program that explained the historical background. Especially Seojun Lee’s fans.
The branch manager’s mind raced.
‘The *Naeuiwon* special was good.’
Something in that style would work well. His gaze returned to the set. The Royal Physician Heo, who had been cool-headed in *Naeuiwon* but gentle only to Grand Prince Seongnyeong, was now shouting with chilling intensity.
‘I was worried for nothing.’
The branch manager had also been concerned that the image of *Naeuiwon* might bleed into *Yeok*, but here, there was only Grand Prince Suyang, aiming for his young nephew’s throne.
***
Grand Prince Suyang continued. His voice was like the growl of a wolf, making everyone flinch.
“To forbid us, the grand princes, from holding private audiences is to doubt us. To suspect your closest kin right after Your Majesty’s ascension… this cannot be Your Majesty’s will.”
Grand Prince Suyang’s gaze shifted to Hwangbo In, one of the high officials appointed to advise the young king.
“Could it be that His Majesty is isolated and in need of aid?”
Were the high officials driving a wedge between the king and his kin? At Grand Prince Suyang’s words, Hwangbo In and the other ministers started in surprise. Looking at them, Grand Prince Suyang spoke with a look of pity. It was a look of genuine, heartfelt pity.
“We, the grand princes, are trying to overcome this perilous situation with all our hearts and strength, alongside you, the ministers. How can you instead be jealous and suspicious, Right State Councilor?”
***
‘Because you’re plotting treason, you bastard!’
That pitiful expression only infuriated the staff, who all thought the same thing. Having worked with Seojun, they had all grown fond of King Danjong. And since Jiseok’s acting was just as good as Seojun’s, they couldn’t help but get emotionally invested.
Sometimes, even Jiseok’s manager, Yoon Sung-oh, would look at Jiseok with a strange glint in his eye—the kind that said he wanted to land a punch.
“Jiseok… your acting is so good it makes me genuinely hate you. How can every single gesture be so infuriating?”
“I know, right? I want to smack him one.”
“If we feel this way, the audience is in for a shock. They’ll all be coming in thinking of *Naeuiwon*…”
The staff whispered among themselves as they watched the actors continue their performance.
***
“So I just went ahead and smacked him.”
Seojun burst out laughing at Yoon Sung-oh’s words. Seated across from him, Lee Jiseok rubbed his side. It had been a heavy-handed, half-serious punch. Yoon Sung-oh spoke up.
“Hyung. Stop being so dramatic. I went easy on you.”
Jiseok, who had been dramatically playing up his pain for Seojun’s benefit, just shrugged.
“Hmm. Was I really that good?”
“You were especially despicable today.”
“Perfect!”
“Ahahaha.”
As Seojun laughed loudly, Jiseok, Yoon Sung-oh, and An Daho all broke into laughter as well.
The staff, along with the Plus+ Korea branch manager and his secretary, watched the scene with warm smiles.
After the morning shoot concluded, Seojun and An Daho showed up for the afternoon session. The branch manager, who had planned to leave after the morning, postponed his entire schedule upon hearing Seojun was coming.
***
While the set and props were being prepared, Seojun, now changed into the king’s royal robes, spoke.
“I went to get my school uniform fitted today.”
Lee Jiseok, who had a wound prosthetic on one cheek, nodded. Having finished his makeup for the next scene, Jiseok looked like he’d just come from a sword fight, covered in fake blood. Despite the awkward appearance, the actors calmly drank warm tea.
Their managers, An Daho and Yoon Sung-oh, casually took photos of their actors with their phones.
“A school uniform, huh? Saying it like that makes you really sound like a middle schooler. Where are you thinking of getting it?”
It was obvious that wherever Seojun bought his uniform, other parents and kids would take notice. Free advertising. It was a great deal for the uniform brand.
“There’s a uniform shop in front of the school. It’s not a brand name, but Yeoul Arts Middle School has a small student body, so they do a group purchase there. The school provides a subsidy, so it’s cheap.”
“Don’t group purchases come in standard sizes?”
“I can just get it altered.”
Jiseok laughed at Seojun’s simple answer.
“When’s the entrance ceremony?”
“March 4th. They said we’ll just have the ceremony and get our class assignments, and then we’re done.”
“Our Seojun is already a middle schooler. It feels like just yesterday you were this small.”
Jiseok recalled the little boy from *The Devil*. *He’s grown up so well. So well.* Though he wasn't his parent, he felt a sense of pride in the boy’s excellent growth.
The branch manager and Director Woo Jeonghan were watching the two actors.
“What scene are you filming this time?”
“It’s the story of the night of the Gyeyujeongnan coup. The scene where King Danjong and Grand Prince Suyang meet. Have you seen Seojun’s practical exam video?”
“Oh, yes, I have. He was in casual clothes and had no scene partner, but it was incredible.”
“We’re filming that.”
The branch manager nodded repeatedly at Director Woo Jeonghan’s words. This time, there would be proper costumes, a proper set, and a scene partner. He was excited to see what kind of amazing scene would be produced.
“It’ll take some time to start filming, right?”
“Pardon?”
Director Woo Jeonghan tilted his head at the branch manager’s question.
“Don’t the actors need to get into character? They’re so close, it must take time to create that kind of tense atmosphere between them, right? Ah, of course, I’m sure it will be a fantastic scene. It’s Seojun Lee and Jiseok Lee’s acting, after all.”
Director Woo Jeonghan chuckled at the branch manager’s words.
“It’ll be over in a flash. So fast you’ll have to focus just to keep up.”
“Pardon?”
***
“We’re rolling!”
At the assistant director’s call, Seojun and Jiseok rose from their chairs.
“Let’s do our best, Hyung.”
“Yeah. I’ve practiced a lot, too.”
Seojun and Jiseok grinned, baring their teeth.
Yoon Sung-oh shook his head at the sight of the two actors. What was the age difference between them, yet they had this sense of rivalry. It was funny, but he hoped this relationship would last for a long, long time.
Seojun took his seat, while Lee Jiseok stood at the far end of the set, a prop in his hand. It was a sharp sword, dripping with red paint.
Director Woo Jeonghan, after checking on the two actors, shouted loudly.
“Ready—!”
In that moment,
The branch manager felt as if he were traveling through time. Though the set was surely just a necessary fraction of a palace, not a single modern element could be seen.
There was only Seojun and Jiseok.
No, there was only King Danjong and Grand Prince Suyang.
A heavy silence descended on the set. It was as if he could hear the sound of a chilling wind, which should have been impossible indoors.
‘I’ve seen this countless times… but today, it’s even more incredible.’
Fearing he would get lost in the performance, the director of photography had to steel himself not to miss a single moment. The other camera operators were the same. Over the tension, stretched taut like a rubber band, Director Woo Jeonghan shouted.
“Action!”
It was a failure.
King Danjong closed his eyes.
Due to public scrutiny, Left State Councilor Kim Jong-seo could not maintain a private army, and the same was true for Grand Prince Suyang. However, as Kim Jong-seo currently held power, he had to be more mindful of public perception than Suyang. Perhaps he had let his guard down.
Whatever the reason, the result was clear.
King Danjong had failed.
Screams echoed from outside. He had no idea if Eunuch Kim, who was always by his side, was dead or alive. He could hear the screams of the court ladies.
Though it should have been inaudible, he thought he could hear heavy footsteps—*thump, thump*.
Ah.
King Danjong bit his lip. His clenched fists, resting on his knees, trembled. The fact that someone could barge into the king’s bedchamber so brazenly meant something had happened to the ministers he could rely on, like Kim Jong-seo and Hwangbo In.
*I’m scared. I’m scared of my uncle.*
In his bedchamber, the one place he could show his true feelings, King Danjong squeezed his eyes shut. Tears threatened to fall. But he did not let them, and slowly opened his eyes. They were filled with regret. A regret even greater than his fear of his uncle.
“It’s over…”
The country he had dreamed of was finished.
He had wanted to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, both sage kings, and become a sage king himself. He wanted to create a country for the people, an era of peace and prosperity.
“I haven’t even started yet…”
He had only just begun to learn, only just begun to express his own will. It was so frustrating, so infuriating. So unfair.
“If only I had a little more time…”
A dark night.
The candlelight in King Danjong’s chamber flickered. His gaze turned to the door. He could see the silhouette of a person through the paper screen.
*Thump!*
The chamber door, which had never been opened so violently, flew wide open. The loud noise made King Danjong, who had been trying to maintain a dignified appearance, jolt violently.
The traitor entered, dripping with crimson blood.
“So you were here, Your Majesty.”
His voice was as calm as ever. As if asking what had happened, as if simply inquiring about his well-being.
King Danjong’s eyes widened at the sight of the blood. While Grand Prince Suyang, who was covered in it, seemed unfazed, King Danjong’s face turned deathly pale.
“Ah, my apologies, Your Majesty.”
Grand Prince Suyang said, his face showing no apology whatsoever.
“There were some seditious elements who dared to covet Your Majesty’s throne. I was in such a hurry, worried something might happen to you, that I had no choice but to come in this state.”
The leader of the seditious elements laughed.
“Do not worry, Your Majesty.”
A chill ran up his spine.
*Ah, ah. So this is my uncle’s true face.*
“I have dealt with every last one of them.”
*And now, all that’s left is to deal with you.*
Grand Prince Suyang stopped smiling and looked at King Danjong. His gaze was sharper than the blood-dripping, gleaming blade of his sword.
*They’re all dead.*
*Ah. It’s all… it’s all over.*
Even if he didn't die here and now, his time as king was clearly over.
His head spun, and he almost collapsed, but King Danjong bit the inside of his cheek. He couldn't end things like this, without any resistance.
King Danjong’s eyes flashed.
“I…”
King Danjong spoke as if vomiting blood, baring his teeth at the beast-like man staring back at him.
“I am the king of this nation. Uncle.”
Grand Prince Suyang’s eyebrow twitched.
“Uncle.”
At that word, Grand Prince Suyang, the man who would later become King Sejo, clamped his mouth shut. Perhaps he was recalling the past days he had spent holding his breath. Those days were over, and now he could finally stretch his wings.
King Danjong did not avoid that fierce gaze.
“I am the king anointed by heaven, and you, Uncle, are nothing more than a traitor.”
“Your Majesty. A traitor? I was merely, for Your Majesty’s sake…”
“Uncle.”
[The Fallen Bird-Folk King's Wings (Good) activate.]
King Danjong cut off Grand Prince Suyang, who had begun to speak without a single change in his chilling expression. Grand Prince Suyang tightened his grip on his sword. To his eyes, it was as if there was a divinely appointed king, and the King Danjong reflected in them was exuding a kingly aura.
The great kings, Sejong and Munjong. Faced with an aura that so closely resembled those two, Grand Prince Suyang bit his lip. An inferiority complex welled up from the pit of his stomach, and he felt like he was about to scream. Curses threatened to spill from his mouth.
King Danjong opened his mouth.
“All righteousness is with me. Even if you take this throne, Uncle, that fact will not change. The people and all of posterity will know.”
That sharp truth pierced Grand Prince Suyang, a mere traitor. He raised his sword high. His hand trembled with an uncontrollable rage.
“Heaven will not forgive you, Uncle!”
At the young dragon’s thunderous roar, Grand Prince Suyang, his thread of reason snapped, also shouted.
“You, who were merely! Merely born the legitimate son!”
He revealed the one thing he had hidden his entire life. Grand Prince Suyang spat out his anger like a fire-breathing dragon.
“Anyone can see that I am the one suited for the throne!”
“They will whisper for the rest of your life. That you stole your nephew’s throne.”
“Better than you, who is dragged around by Kim Jong-seo!”
“You will become a dark cloud that does not listen to the counsel of your subjects.”
“Better than you, who is too soft-hearted and squanders the palace treasury!”
“I can already hear the laments of the people.”
Fearing that if he held the sword any longer, he would truly cut off King Danjong’s head, Grand Prince Suyang threw it to the floor.
Panting, Grand Prince Suyang strode aggressively toward King Danjong and thrust his head forward. He bared his teeth and growled.
“Listen well. I will not kill you.”
He spoke as if chewing on each and every letter.
“I will turn today’s events into a righteous cleansing, and I will ascend to the throne legitimately, so that no gossip will follow.”
Grand Prince Suyang grabbed King Danjong by the collar.
At the look in King Danjong’s eyes, a look that said, *you’re still just a traitor*, Grand Prince Suyang roared.
“No matter how much you get on my nerves, I have no intention of becoming a traitor by killing you, so stop grating on my nerves! Lee Hongwi!”
For a moment, King Danjong’s pupils wavered.