Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Showdown in the Byeolgak
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The carriage raced along at breakneck speed and soon arrived at the Central Administration Bureau. After stepping out, I checked that Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang and the others, including Crown Prince Uija, had followed on horseback. I gestured to them.
"Wait here."
As I turned to enter, Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang reached out his hand.
"Hand it over."
"Hand over what?"
"The weapon you're carrying."
"Ah, you mean the blade of Jumong's Spear? This isn't a weapon; it's a sacred relic."
"Regardless, we've received orders not to allow you to be armed."
"I told you, it's a sacred relic. If you touch it without my permission, you'll be cursed. It's only permitted for me."
"If you keep spouting nonsense..."
"How dare you call the sacred relic bestowed by the Shrine Maiden of Liaodong Fortress—the relic of Chumo Great King—nonsense?"
I'd been waiting for a chance to pounce on his words and tore into him. Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang flinched. I grabbed his hesitating hand and pretended to unwrap the blade of Jumong's Spear to hand it over.
"Aaaagh!"
He let out an involuntary scream. Smiling, I said,
"I'll grant you permission to touch it, Vice Supreme Central Administrator."
Then I placed the blade of Jumong's Spear in his hand. His shocked hand trembled uncontrollably. Leaving the Vice Supreme Central Administrator like that, I entered the Central Administration Bureau. The official leading the way took me to the same hall where large meetings were held. But instead of the main entrance, we went around to the side. There stood a peculiar circular building.
"What's this place?"
The name "Byeolgak" was written above the door. The official who opened it stepped aside. Inside, as expected, Senior Central Administrator Yeon Jeong-du sat in a chair, surrounded by his close aides.
'It looks just like a courtroom.'
In the intensely hostile atmosphere, Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang, who had come with me, shouted,
"I've brought Chief Envoy Yeon Namsaeng of the Central Administration."
Then Yeon Jeong-du, who had been seated, spoke up.
"Chief Envoy, come forward."
I did as instructed and stepped up. There was no chair, and no one brought one, so I naturally stood looking at him. Senior Central Administrator Yeon Jeong-du lounged obliquely in his seat, gazing up at me. The reddish hue in his eyes made it clear he was plotting something.
"Chief Envoy. Who did you meet in Baekje?"
"Is that why you dragged me here the moment I arrived?"
When I asked with a look of disbelief, Yeon Jeong-du slammed his palm on the table.
"You went to Baekje on a critical mission. I even let you assemble your own delegation as you wished. Yet you return without meeting so much as King Mu of Arah, or even Prince Gyogi or Sataek Jijeok!"
To please Yeon Jeong-du, if only for a moment, I put on a gloomy expression.
"Actually..."
"Silence. Every time you open your mouth, it's about allying with Baekje. I entrusted you with the delegation for that reason, but you met no one. What have you been doing out there, only returning now? Hiding somewhere to plot treason?"
"T-Treason? That's going too far."
"Too far? The fact that you say that proves it's true."
While Yeon Jeong-du bellowed, I glanced at Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang. Seated among his colleagues, he stared blankly elsewhere with a blank face. For amusement—and to gauge how much Yeon Jeong-du knew—I pretended to yield further.
"I-I did my best. But..."
"Your best? I heard you holed up in the guest quarters, met no one, and then vanished."
I thought to myself,
'He knows I entered the guest quarters but not that I met King Mu and Crown Prince Uija.'
He was clearly connected to Prince Gyogi and the Sataek clan. If he had ties to the royal family, he wouldn't berate me like this in front of his subordinates. To probe further, I feigned a complaint.
"I did my utmost. But Great Equalizer Sataek Jijeok kept interfering..."
"Even with interference, you should have completed the mission. After all your big talk."
"How could I complete the mission breaking through the Great Equalizer's interference? I sent people multiple times requesting meetings and an audience with King Mu of Arah, but they were ignored."
"Enough excuses. You failed the mission anyway, so you'll be punished. Any objections?"
As Go Jeong-ui had predicted, the word "punishment" flowed naturally from his lips.
'This is why he dragged me here without giving me a moment to breathe.'
It was his scheme to prevent me and my family from mounting a defense. Yeon Jeong-du looked at me with a smug expression, as if he'd landed a decisive blow. One last feigned plea.
"Shouldn't you at least hear my side?"
"You failed and return not to repent but to make excuses?"
"That's not it..."
"Admit your fault and repent, and I'll petition the Great King for leniency."
Of course, it wasn't sincere. It was obviously meant to break my spirit and undermine my father Yeon Gaesomun's position. Deciding it was time for a counterattack, I lifted my head stiffly.
"Give me a chance to explain."
Thinking he'd won, the triumphant Yeon Jeong-du took his time.
"Go ahead."
"One of my attendants is from Baekje. Bring him here."
"Why him?"
Ignoring Yeon Jeong-du's question, I looked around the Byeolgak as I spoke.
"And dismiss everyone except Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang."
"What?"
Sensing the mood shift ominously, Yeon Jeong-du's face hardened.
"It's a grave matter. Grant my request."
"You don't trust my aides?"
"Frankly speaking."
I stepped forward and looked down at Yeon Jeong-du.
"I don't trust you either, Senior Central Administrator."
The seated Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang shot to his feet and pointed accusingly.
"What did you just say? How dare you insult the Senior Central Administrator!"
I didn't even glance at him, speaking directly to Senior Central Administrator Yeon Jeong-du.
"If you refuse, I'll report directly to the Great King."
"How dare you!"
"Last warning. If I have to go to the Great King myself, even your aides won't escape the fallout, no matter how close they are. What's your choice?"
I deliberately threatened him in front of his aides. Yeon Jeong-du looked flustered.
'Of course. He's cornered.'
Ignoring me could bring unknown repercussions. Granting my request meant losing face in this battle of wills. As he agonized, I pressed him once more.
"What will it be? Refuse, and I'll go to the Great King."
"You think the Great King will see you?"
His words said one thing, but his panic at the unexpected turn was obvious.
"It depends on what I accomplished in Baekje. The Great King will prioritize the kingdom's benefit over emotions."
By praising the Great King, even his aides couldn't easily refute. In modern times, I'd been used to verbal sparring like this. But in hierarchical Goguryeo, it was unfamiliar.
'Who knew words could be my greatest weapon.'
After agonizing, Yeon Jeong-du finally decided.
"Everyone except Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang, out."
As his aides filed out, Yeon Jeong-du glared at me.
"If this is nonsense, your punishment will account for that too."
"Naturally. Now, fetch the man who came with me?"
With an expression of extreme discomfort, Yeon Jeong-du nodded. Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang dashed out of the Byeolgak like an arrow. Yeon Jeong-du, anxious, drummed his fingers on the desk. Seeing it, I slyly remarked,
"Worried?"
I wanted to say "Scared?", but he might not get it. He hastily hid his fingers in his sleeve and glared. Moments later, Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang returned with Crown Prince Uija. Dressed in plain pants and jacket, wearing a commoner's black hood instead of finery or official headgear, no one recognized Crown Prince Uija's true identity. Even Yeon Jeong-du seemed slightly relieved by his attire.
"Is this the one who's going to save you?"
"Ask him yourself."
At Yeon Jeong-du's gesture, Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang brought Crown Prince Uija to my side. Yeon Jeong-du eyed him up and down and asked,
"Who are you?"
Instead of answering, Crown Prince Uija showed the jade seal in his hand.
"I am sent by Baekje's King Mu of Arah."
"Baekje's King Mu of Arah?"
Stunned by the unexpected reply, Yeon Jeong-du blinked. Crown Prince Uija placed the seal on the desk and stated firmly,
"Summon someone who can verify this seal."
Yeon Jeong-du beckoned Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang, who had brought him.
"Didn't you work in the External Affairs Bureau?"
"Yes."
"Come examine this seal."
Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang hurried over and carefully picked up the seal Crown Prince Uija presented. He inspected the stamping surface and paled in shock.
"Th-This is!"
"Report quickly. Is it truly the seal of Baekje's King Mu of Arah?"
At Yeon Jeong-du's question, Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang grimaced and replied,
"Yes. It's the same as the one stamped on state documents."
The atmosphere shifted completely. As Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang backed away, Yeon Jeong-du stared at Crown Prince Uija, who had shown the seal.
"What is your identity that you carry Baekje's King Mu of Arah's seal? If this is a forgery meant to deceive me, confess now."
I snickered at Yeon Jeong-du's absurd self-sabotage.
"Get a grip. Do you think I'd forge Baekje's King Mu of Arah's seal?"
Crown Prince Uija crossed his arms and sneered.
"The head of the Central Administration Bureau, reduced to this."
Then he turned to me.
"You've had it rough. Indeed."
Hearing us, Yeon Jeong-du broke into a cold sweat. I glanced at Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang.
"Go to the External Affairs Bureau and fetch someone."
Standing dazed, Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang looked at me.
"Wh-Who?"
"Someone who's seen Crown Prince Uija."
At the mention of "Crown Prince Uija," Vice Supreme Central Administrator Bu Sang's face drained of color. Before Yeon Jeong-du could speak, he bolted outside. Yeon Jeong-du, hearing it, was equally shocked.
"N-No way."
"Fetch a chair. Keeping the host seated while the guest stands—Goguryeo hospitality is truly stingy."
Yeon Jeong-du gestured, but with no one there, he looked troubled. I grabbed a folding chair from the corner, brought it over, and opened it. Crown Prince Uija smiled and said,
"One more. I can't sit while my friend stands."
Grinning, I fetched another folding chair. Sitting in the one I opened, Crown Prince Uija crossed his legs and said,
"No one offered tea on the way here. I'd like some to wet my throat."
Yeon Jeong-du shouted outside for tea to be brought quickly. Then Crown Prince Uija called out,
"Two cups."