148. Were You Planning to Show the Imperial Capital to a Suspicious Assassin?
“The victim is right here—what nonsense is this?”
The Ministry of War's attendant raised his voice in fury.
Won Seung glanced at Hong Il-wan. The man flinched. Memories of beatings had a way of lingering.
Won Seung looked at the pitiful Hong Il-wan with disdain and said, “These guys were caught red-handed, but they resisted, so we had no choice but to subdue them with force.”
The Ministry of War attendant scowled and barked, “What are you talking about? You framed innocent people and beat them, calling them criminals!”
He then turned to the Ministry of Justice advisor. “It looks like you were planning to cover for this scum after seeing his fabricated report. Don't be fooled.”
“Hmph, that's for me to decide.”
The Ministry of Justice advisor addressed Hong Il-wan. “Framed, you say? Explain yourself from the beginning.”
“It's truly unjust. Yesterday, while returning from a hunt with my retainers, we stopped for dinner in Sanya County. At the inn, there was a girl with a sword, sitting alone. She kept glancing around cautiously, acting suspiciously, so we grew wary.”
He turned to the young nobles. “You all saw it too, didn't you? She pretended to eat but kept peeking outside.”
“Yes, that girl was definitely suspicious.”
The young nobles chimed in like a chorus.
Hong Il-wan faced the Ministry of Justice advisor again. “Suddenly, I recalled the case of a scholar heading to the spring exams in the capital who was murdered midway. I'd heard rumors they used assassins to eliminate rivals. So, I suspected she might be one.”
“A girl as an assassin? How old even is she?”
The advisor frowned.
“She looked about thirteen or fourteen, but she seemed trained in martial arts—bigger than her peers, with smooth movements. I've heard assassin groups like Haeyeonmun or Jeokhyeolsan hire elders, women, even kids. It was only natural to suspect her. Even if not an assassin, a girl that age wandering alone with a sword is suspicious, isn't it?”
Haah... So he can spin tales like that without batting an eye.
Won Seung was impressed watching Hong Il-wan lie so smoothly, without a drop of saliva to moisten his mouth.
It even started sounding plausible to him.
The advisor listened with furrowed brows.
“So we asked where she was from. She dodged the question, so we said we'd go to the yamen. That's when she suddenly drew her sword. My guards blocked her, and she attacked right away. Shockingly, the girl's martial arts were exceptional.”
Hong Il-wan pointed at Won Seung. “My guards held back with no poison claws to capture her alive. Then this guy appeared out of nowhere, sided with the girl, and attacked us.”
“Yes, we were just getting beaten one-sidedly.”
The foolish young nobles piled on.
“This is backed by the testimony of the Hwapyak Inn's owner.”
Hong Il-wan handed an envelope to the advisor.
Gasp, Jang Chun-sam. Hitting me from behind like this?
The guy we'd parted on good terms with...
Won Seung ground his teeth inwardly. Jang Chun-sam was clearly untrustworthy.
The advisor opened the envelope from Hong Il-wan, unfolded the paper inside, read it, then passed it to an official nearby, who brought it to Won Seung.
The advisor said, “The innkeeper's testimony contradicts your report. How do you explain this?”
Won Seung read Jang Chun-sam's testimony. It largely matched Hong Il-wan's account.
A sly smirk curled on Hong Il-wan's lips. He glared at Won Seung with eyes saying, You're dead now.
Won Seung's expression didn't change as he handed the testimony back to the official. “Give me ten silver taels, and I can get you one saying the opposite. For a high official's son like Young Master Hong? He could produce endless testimonies.”
Pointing out how money and power bought witnesses, Hong Il-wan exploded. “You're the one who arbitrarily let the criminal go and framed the wrong person!”
“Oh, Young Master Hong, take a good look at that innkeeper's testimony.”
Won Seung spoke to him pityingly.
“It says, 'The Justice Ministry investigator said to go to the yamen and sort it out.' See that part?”
He turned to the advisor. “I only learned later that Young Master Hong was the Ministry of War advisor's second son. But at the inn, they just looked like thugs harassing a young girl. Still, I held back and suggested going to the yamen to settle it. They refused and swung swords instead—what could I do? I was just doing my duty as a Justice Ministry investigator.”
“Wh-what? Lying through your teeth! Didn't you let that girl go? You're the one who released a suspicious suspect—that's dereliction of duty!”
“Suspicious? I know that girl well. She's my best friend's little sister. An assassin? Absurd.”
“What? You know her? Ah, so that's why you covered for that assassin!”
Hong Il-wan frothed at the mouth, thinking he'd seized the advantage. Fool took the bait.
Won Seung calmly addressed the advisor. “An assassin? I have no idea what makes you think that. May I bring the person in question here?”
The advisor waved permission.
Then Mu Gi-an appeared, escorting Im Cho-ye.
“Ah!”
“!”
Gasps filled the hall.
Im Cho-ye, in flowing clothes and makeup, captivated everyone instantly with her beauty. Won Seung had specially asked Mu Gi-an to make her look as fragile as possible, and it worked.
People eyed Hong Il-wan like, This beauty an assassin? No way. Even the Ministry of War folks panicked.
“This girl is Un-ye, the sister of my close friend Un-saeng from Sangyang. She came with her brother to Yeongtap Temple to offer 108 prostrations for new clothes. Her brother got a job mid-ritual and rushed back to Sangyang, asking me to look after his sister.”
Won Seung approached Mu Gi-an.
—Gonna have to treat you big time.
Mu Gi-an, who'd rushed back and forth to Yeongtap Temple, mouthed the words and handed over an envelope with a letter.
“This is Yeongtap Temple's testimony that Un-ye completed her 108 prostrations.”
Won Seung passed the envelope to a nearby official, who gave it to the advisor.
The advisor read it and nodded. It was genuine, from the temple's guest hall.
“On her way to find me after the prostrations, she stopped at Hwapyak Inn, and Young Master Hong's group arrived. They said things like, 'Alone?' 'I'll show you the capital.' 'Follow me for something good.'”
Won Seung turned to Hong Il-wan. “Young Master Hong, were you planning to show the Imperial Capital to a suspicious assassin?”
Hearing his own words to Im Cho-ye thrown back at him, even thick-skinned Hong Il-wan flushed red. He looked around—everyone's faces said they wouldn't believe him anymore. Even the Ministry of War attendant couldn't meet eyes.
The young nobles beside him averted their gazes, pretending otherwise.
Won Seung glared at them. “Those young masters chimed in too. Who said, 'Flowers are best plucked young'?”
Im Cho-ye let out a sob, tears welling as she bowed her head slightly. It was on cue from Won Seung, but losing parents and uncles, with the remaining two on the brink of death, the tears came naturally.
“!”
Seeing the beautiful girl's tears melted hearts. Cold stares from the men turned on Hong Il-wan and his cronies.
As the flustered Hong Il-wan tried to speak, the advisor bellowed.
“Still got something to say? High official's son harassing and trying to abduct a young girl? Unforgivable!”
The Ministry of War attendant jumped in desperately. No shame, but he couldn't hand over Hong Il-wan.
“Wait, just a moment... May I have a quiet word?”
“What more do you have to say?”
The advisor, sensing victory, spoke arrogantly.
The attendant sidled up and whispered. They then entered the side room off the hall.
Silence fell in the hall as the leaders conferred privately.
Won Seung smirked at Hong Il-wan and raised a fist.
—You need more beating.
Hong Il-wan panicked greatly. His Ministry of War guards had told him about getting thrashed by Won Seung. He could only fidget anxiously.
Moments later, the advisor and attendant emerged.
The advisor sat and spoke solemnly. “Testimonies conflict, so further investigation is needed. We'll review the case again once verified.”
Won Seung bowed politely. He'd expected this. They wouldn't jail a Ministry of War advisor's son over this. High officials fought but gave leeway on family matters. If you don't spare mine, I won't spare yours—an unspoken line they toed.
This case won't resurface.
Won Seung mused inwardly. As long as he and Im Cho-ye were safe, fine. Hong Il-wan might seek private revenge... but he'd deal with that then.
After last night's brawl, Won Seung brimmed with confidence. Peak expert? Come at me, I'll smash you. If strength fell short, poison would fill the gap.
As the advisor retired, the Ministry of War group left. Won Seung exited with Im Cho-ye and Mu Gi-an when the inspector called.
“Investigator Joo, come here.”
Won Seung approached, and the inspector handed him a document. “Well done. No more headaches from this. And this is your appointment letter.”
“Appointment?”
“You'll now serve as a formal Justice Ministry investigator.”
“Pardon?”
The inspector smiled. “Can't let talent like you rot in Sanya County's backwater. Once the Ministry of Personnel approves, report to the outer offices.”
What? When did I ask for an official post?
As Won Seung blinked, the inspector added, “The Ministry of War will watch you. They don't forget grudges. But as a Justice Ministry investigator, they won't touch you lightly. This is consideration from above.”
Won Seung thought, Commuting to the inner palace? Do good, get promoted right away?
Justice Ministry investigator was high for a non-exam passer—with real investigative and arrest powers.
“I gladly accept.”
Won Seung bowed at once.