Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Treatment Equivalent to Grand Commander-in-Chief
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“He took his own life. He had something in his mouth, and we didn’t have a chance to stop him.”
Yi Hwan stared at the already-dead man in yellow robes, narrowing his brows slightly.
“What a shame. If we’d taken him alive, we could’ve uncovered his identity.”
“My apologies.”
“How do you stop someone dead set on dying? Let’s go.”
“Shall we head to the residence?”
“Better to ignore it for today.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan started walking again.
The sudden incident drew a crowd of passersby rushing over. Among them were warriors from the Golden Army, responsible for the city’s security.
“Halt!”
The warriors blocked Yi Hwan and his group.
Yi Hwan stopped and stared at the warriors.
“Disarm and raise your arms above your shoulders! Resist, and we’ll take your heads!”
Ching! Ching!
The warriors aimed their razor-sharp blades at Yi Hwan and the others’ foreheads.
Cheol Mu-ok stepped forward.
“This is the Great Prince, soon to lead the Golden Army. Lower your swords!”
“……!”
Clang! Clang!
The warriors, startled, hurriedly sheathed their blades.
Yi Hwan asked calmly.
“Are you with the Golden Army?”
“Yes! We are!”
“You always patrol in groups this size?”
“Yes!”
There were five warriors in total, all with sturdy builds and sharp, alert eyes.
“Two of you stay to clean up the scene. The rest, follow me.”
“……Pardon?”
“What? Don’t want to?”
“N-no, sir!”
Two warriors rushed to the scene, while the others followed Yi Hwan. The warriors were tense.
And understandably so. Yi Hwan was about to become the head of the Golden Army, holding their lives in his hands. They had just pointed swords at him.
“How many are assigned to patrol this area?”
“About three hundred rotate through!”
“No Golden Army warriors lost to bandits so far?”
“Recently, around twenty have died!”
It was no small number.
Yi Hwan headed to his residence, asking various questions. Through the conversation, he realized the Golden Army’s discipline was far worse than expected.
‘The Golden Army’s current head is said to be heavily political.’
The current head was effectively dismissed.
Crown Prince Yi So had exposed his corruption through an East Depot investigation, making it public. It was all for Yi Hwan.
Yi So had said as much.
The Golden Army’s head had always leaned political, promoting like-minded ideologues within the ranks, which had eroded discipline.
He’d even advised Yi Hwan to start by fixing that upon taking command.
‘Dragging a national security force into politics—enough to warrant death on its own.’
One warrior asked cautiously.
“When will you arrive, sir?”
“Soon.”
* * *
The residence prepared by Yi So was impressively large. A grand hall where Yi Hwan would stay was surrounded by ten smaller halls like fortress walls.
Yi Hwan was quietly impressed.
“The whole complex forms a single formation.”
“These halls are old. I wonder what they were used for before. Built like this, they must’ve handled important duties.”
Yi Hwan hadn’t heard specifics from Yi So either.
He strode inside.
Beyond the gate like a castle entrance, dozens of generals stood in formation.
“Loyalty!”
The generals saluted Yi Hwan.
Yi So must have tipped them off in advance.
“Pleased to meet you all.”
“Welcome, Great Prince!”
Yi Hwan eyed the general at the front. Young, with strikingly intense eyes.
“I am Son Yeong, Deputy General who will serve the Great Prince from now on! It’s an honor!”
Yi Hwan sensed it at a glance.
Son Yeong was from the Crown Prince’s Palace.
“Let’s go inside first.”
* * *
Yi Hwan received many reports from Son Yeong.
Some were quite important. What caught Yi Hwan’s attention was the Second Prince’s men within the Golden Army.
“Here’s the list.”
Son Yeong placed the roster on the table.
It was filled with dozens of names and positions.
“Definitely Second Prince loyalists?”
“Yes. Confirmed Second Prince men. His Highness the Crown Prince already knows.”
Yi Hwan handed the list to Cheol Mu-ok. Then he asked Son Yeong something else.
“I hear you’re getting intel linked with the East Depot and Golden Imperial Guards. Which weighs more?”
“They’re about even. But most Second Prince generals get info from the Golden Imperial Guards. They rarely share key details with us.”
“Like two families under one roof.”
“Ashamed to say, yes.”
“Noted.”
Son Yeong asked.
“I heard you’ll receive the rank equivalent to Grand Commander-in-Chief upon arrival. Is it true?”
“Not quite Grand Commander-in-Chief, but equivalent treatment. Don’t get ahead of yourselves.”
“Still, it elevates our Golden Army’s status. I must share this joyous news with the others!”
Son Yeong beamed as if it were his own achievement. Understandably, the Golden Army had grown in size but lost prestige compared to the past.
It started as the Emperor’s personal guard, now handling capital and city security—a downgrade.
The head’s excessive politicking had bred many enemies too.
Yi So granting Yi Hwan near-Grand Commander-in-Chief rank aimed to boost the Golden Army’s prestige and maximize Yi Hwan’s influence. Unprecedented in Yeon Kingdom history.
‘The Crown Prince is wielding his full power. Perhaps his greatest strength is the appointment authority partially delegated by the Emperor.’
Clink.
Yi Hwan set down his teacup and continued.
“Once the official appointment is done, I’ll meet those generals.”
“Understood. Rest well, then.”
Son Yeong left.
Yi Hwan flung open the residence’s windows. Nearby generals slinked away.
No doubt Second Prince men.
Cheol Mu-ok said.
“With so many Second Prince generals, we’ll strengthen security for a while. Means we stay in the next room over.”
“Do it.”
“Yes.”
“Avoid clashes without my orders. Coax them first. If they won’t bend, handle them then.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll rest. You’re dismissed.”
“Yes. Rest well.”
* * *
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae stepped into the grand hall’s courtyard.
Warriors stood guard at the gate and elsewhere. The two sat at a courtyard table.
“His Highness prepared well. Shows how much he trusts our lord.”
“Indeed. Our lord’s the most reliable ally for him.”
“Feels strange how our status rose too. Never thought we’d enter the Imperial Palace in our lives.”
“Massive. A royal prince heading the Golden Army is unprecedented. Yeon’s founder banned royals from such roles to curb ambitions, yet the Crown Prince shattered that.”
“Must be desperate. The Second Prince has the Empress backing him.”
“Right. Anyway, we’ll be busy ahead. Better than boredom.”
Ju Tae glanced at the grand hall and changed topics.
“Honestly, it’d be nice if he told us his plans plainly.”
“What’s it matter? We follow orders, that’s it. Keep it simple.”
They chatted idly. About half an hour passed?
Go Mi crossed the gate.
Behind her, around thirty Moon Pavilion warriors. The two rose and cupped their fists.
“Is the Great Prince inside?”
Cheol Mu-ok nodded silently. Go Mi asked again.
“Any quarters assigned for us?”
“We don’t know either…….”
As Cheol Mu-ok looked troubled,
Yi Hwan’s voice floated from an upstairs window.
“Take the entire first floor.”
“…….”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae exchanged wide-eyed glances.
[He can hear us from there?]
[Something changed after his internal injuries. Or he was hiding his abilities.]
[Just spill it all already. Why hide?]
[I’ll ask.]
[……Never mind.]
* * *
It was an exceptionally sunny day.
Yi Hwan donned gleaming armor and entered the palace.
Today was his official ascension as Golden Army head. Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, and Deputy General Son Yeong followed.
How far along the marble path?
Gwan Ji-baek approached from ahead.
“Welcome, Great Prince.”
“All gathered?”
“Yes. It’ll start soon. This way.”
Yi Hwan headed to the inner hall with Gwan Ji-baek.
Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, and Son Yeong waited outside, barred from entering.
Gwan Ji-baek briefly explained the procedure en route. Once done, Yi Hwan asked.
“The Second Prince here?”
“Just got word he’s absent.”
“Didn’t want to see it, I suppose.”
Gwan Ji-baek merely smiled faintly at Yi Hwan’s remark.
Moments later, Yi Hwan entered the center amid assembled ministers.
The mood was as expected.
Nearly half eyed him with displeasure.
‘Not welcome, huh.’
Yi Hwan cupped fists to Yi So and bowed. Unlike usual, Yi So received it solemnly.
That was Yi Hwan’s courtesy done.
He bowed to no one, not even the Prime Minister. The hall murmured at his arrogance, but Yi So waved it off, starting the ceremony proper.
* * *
“The vibe here’s different from the start.”
Ju Tae shrugged, scanning the palace grounds.
“No place for humans. How many died here? They call it the palace built on blood.”
Son Yeong looked awkward at Cheol Mu-ok’s words. The three waited silently for Yi Hwan.
How much time passed?
“Huh.”
Son Yeong’s eyes widened at someone.
Cheol Mu-ok asked.
“What?”
“The Third Prince is coming.”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae turned to Son Yeong’s gaze. A handsome warrior in official robes and a middle-aged man in similar attire approached.
Third Prince Yi Seong-ji.
Cheol Mu-ok narrowed his eyes at Yi Seong-ji.
‘Something feels…….’
“His face rubs me wrong.”
“Kinda off, yeah?”
“Like a handsome ghost walking.”
Ju Tae felt it too.
Son Yeong eyed them puzzled. Yi Seong-ji had a kindly face, gentle aura.
Humble too, respected by many in the palace. Just rarely seen publicly, so few knew his face unless key figures.
‘Martial experts see differently.’
The three stared as Yi Seong-ji and the man passed. Far enough, no need for greetings.
“Trained in martial arts, he’d be a top expert. The vibe screams it.”
Cheol Mu-ok nodded silently, then asked Son Yeong.
“What’s the Third Prince like?”
“Not sure myself, but unlike the Second Prince, he shuns power. Rumors say he coldly rejected the Second Prince’s recent plea for aid.”
“Rejecting his own brother’s hand? Power-shy for sure.”
“Who knows. Could be hiding ambition. Those types are scariest.”
“Maybe.”
Yi Seong-ji entered the palace. Boredom resumed. Much later, Yi Hwan finally emerged.
“He’s out!”
The three hurried over.
“All done?”
Instead of answering, Yi Hwan handed a badge from his sleeve to Cheol Mu-ok.
“What’s this?”
Son Yeong answered brightly.
“The badge symbolizing rank equivalent to Grand Commander-in-Chief. Congratulations, Great Prince!”
“Congratulations!”
Yi Hwan remained indifferent amid the cheers. He just wanted out of the palace ASAP.
“Let’s leave first.”