Chapter 119
Chapter 119
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: The Imperial Edict Descends
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yi Hwan, having left the Palace of Illusory Flowers, headed straight for the Crown Prince's Palace. Yi So, having heard the situation from Gwan Ji-baek, asked,
"Have you met with her?"
"Is she really the Empress?"
"What's that out of the blue?"
"She seems too young. Even with the Wine-Drinking Technique, it's hard to look that youthful. Unless..."
Yi Hwan trailed off, and Yi So's face turned bitter.
"It's just as you think."
"The Empress has such profound inner power that she could become that young?"
"There's no solid information to confirm it. But it's certain she has mastered the Return-to-Youth Technique."
"There were martial artists scattered throughout the Palace of Illusory Flowers. Did you know about that?"
"The Empress has been gathering martial artists from the jianghu for a long time. No one knows the full extent. Anyway, you've heard about her exchanging messages with the Southwest King of Zhao, right?"
"I heard it from the Moon Lord. Which is why... the Empress might actually want war."
"Why do you think that?"
"If she had some deal with Zhao's Southwest King, she would've demanded the Crown Prince's return unconditionally. But just now, she talked about the kingdom's pride and said absolutely not to send him back."
"If the Southwest King doesn't give up on Jo Gwang, the chances of war are very high. Her Majesty might know that and said it on purpose."
"Exactly."
Yi So's expression grew heavy.
Jo Gwang, who had been listening, felt the same.
Yi Hwan asked,
"If war breaks out, do we have a chance of beating Zhao?"
"Who knows."
Putting off the answer, Yi So turned to Jo Gwang and asked,
"How does Zhao see it?"
"..."
"It's related to your safety, so answer."
After hesitating, Jo Gwang spoke.
"Zhao's military has been confident of a decisive victory for a long time. They're just delaying the invasion because they can't predict how Qin will respond."
Yi So gave a bitter smile at Jo Gwang's honest reply.
"Comparing our openly displayed forces, we're definitely at a disadvantage. Zhao pours the most money into its military out of the three kingdoms."
"Doesn't the Empress know that much?"
"Of course she does. No one pays more attention to this kingdom's military than her."
Yi Hwan furrowed his brow.
"She knows we're at a disadvantage but is willing to go to war anyway? That means it's not about pinning all the blame on the Crown Prince's Palace when war breaks out..."
"Yeah, that's how it looks. Which makes it even more confusing."
Jo Gwang, watching, felt uneasy. He was becoming the pretext for war.
"I'm sorry. Because of me, for no reason..."
At that moment, Pa Pa spoke up.
"If Your Highness's safety is guaranteed, this old woman will infiltrate Zhao and gather intelligence."
"Does the Southwest King know about you?"
"Yes. He's seen me often, so he must."
"Then the moment you enter Zhao, you're dead. Even I'd prioritize getting revenge on you if I were him. I'll gratefully accept the sentiment."
"..."
Yi Hwan stood up.
"For now, let's each investigate the Empress's intentions. Report back as soon as you get solid information."
"Yeah, let's do that."
Soon after, Yi Hwan left the Crown Prince's Palace.
On the way, he instructed Go Mi.
"We need to dig deeper into the backgrounds of the Six Ministries officials. It'd be great if at least someone like Minister of Justice Song Yeong-gi steps up."
"Understood."
"Full focus on it."
"Full focus!"
Clatter clatter!
* * *
There were eyes watching Yi Hwan's group as they raced out of the Imperial Palace like a gale.
It was an old man whom the Third Prince Yi Seong-ji had called master.
Having entered the palace moments ago, he stared at Yi Hwan's retreating figure, his gaze steady.
"That presence is truly astonishing. How long has it been since he entered the palace, and he's already become a figure drawing everyone's attention."
"Our lord doesn't seem too concerned."
"You're mistaken."
"Pardon?"
"Our lord is already wary of the Great Prince. A keen eye can gauge an opponent's measure even passing by. Our lord's insight has surpassed that level."
The old man turned.
"Let's head back. Our lord will be waiting."
"Yes."
The old man walked toward the palace gate.
On the way, he glanced around and spotted someone, his eyes lighting up.
It was Yi Tae-ji.
He was heading to the Empress's Palace of Illusory Flowers with his guards.
'If he's deliberately hiding his strength, that's one thing, but if what's shown is all he has, the Second Prince is no match for our lord. The day the Empress realizes that, the master of the realm will be...'
A meaningful glint filled the old man's eyes.
* * *
Returning to headquarters, Yi Hwan finished his meditation cultivation, climbed onto the roof of the main hall, and cooled his feverishly heated body.
Whoosh!
The wind was quite cold, heading into early winter. Thanks to it, Yi Hwan's body cooled quickly.
'What is the Empress aiming for?'
Lately, that was all he could think about.
She was clearly plotting something to put the Crown Prince's Palace in a bind, but he couldn't pin it down.
He had concluded his initial guess—that she'd declare war and blame the Crown Prince's Palace—was wrong.
If that were her goal, she wouldn't have opposed handing over Jo Gwang.
'This way, if war breaks out, even the Empress can't escape responsibility. She must know that, so I need to figure out why she's acting this way...'
Flutter!
An owl landed on a tree branch hanging over the roof.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Yi Hwan sat cross-legged and raised his hands over his chest. Seven lights floated up like fireflies.
But their size and color intensity were greater and deeper than before.
The lights flew toward the owl. Startled, it hastily took flight.
Flutter!
The lights chased it, then vanished with a pop.
'Only the strongest technique left now.'
He was rapidly regaining his past power, but some techniques were still unusable.
The ultimate techniques that had made him the Martial Emperor. But in his current state, using them would cause internal injuries or broken bones.
'I'll be able to use it soon.'
Yi Hwan dusted himself off and stood, walking to the edge of the roof to survey the headquarters.
Then he noticed the light blazing in Jo Gwang's room and subtly furrowed his brow.
"I'm sorry. Because of me, for no reason..."
Back at the Crown Prince's Palace, Jo Gwang's expression had seemed endlessly sorrowful and poignant. Even Yi Hwan, who had brought him for his own purposes, felt a slight stir.
Naturally, Yi So came to mind. If pushed out by the Empress and Yi Tae-ji, he might suffer Jo Gwang's fate.
'For the sake of reviving the Mount Hua Banquet's will, that can't happen.'
That was why he helped Yi So.
Yi Hwan lightly leaped down to the back courtyard. Go Mi was sitting there.
"Were you waiting for me?"
"I've identified those you killed at the manor before."
"It sounds like they weren't the ones following the God's prophecy."
"Yes. They were from Zhao. They seem to have been active nearby gathering intelligence. But there's something strange."
Go Mi caught her breath and continued.
"They'd been searching for someone using the Soul Separation Technique recently."
It was words that instantly sharpened Yi Hwan's gaze.
'Zhao guys who know about the Soul Separation Technique—could they be after Cha Jung-kyeong?'
That was his first suspicion.
But he soon shook his head.
'We faked Cha Jung-kyeong returning to Sichuan... so they're after Ju Tae.'
"What are you thinking?"
"Nothing. Anything else?"
"That's it for today."
"Shall we have a drink for once?"
"I'm too tired today. Sorry. Rest well."
"..."
Even today, Go Mi turned away without mercy.
* * *
A few days later, the feared event occurred.
It could also be called the expected one. It was Zhao's ultimatum.
The report reached Yi Hwan immediately.
"A month deadline?"
"Yes. Zhao troops' movements are already being spotted along the fronts."
"What's the court doing?"
"Starting today, all ministers and officials are summoned to the palace for emergency status and to monitor the situation."
"There must be ministers who want to send Jo Gwang back. Is the Empress blocking them?"
"Yes. They've warned that any dissent will be punished."
"So they're willing to go to war..."
Yi Hwan still hadn't grasped the Empress's intentions. Several possibilities existed, but he'd have to watch to see which was likely.
Go Mi asked casually,
"An order has come for all officials, including the Six Ministries heads, to enter the palace. Shouldn't the Great Prince go too?"
"Enter the palace..."
Yi Hwan trailed off, leaning back in his chair.
'Should I go?'
Then.
Cheol Mu-ok opened the door.
"Someone from the palace has arrived."
Yi Hwan stared at the general standing behind the open door.
"What's the matter?"
"You must enter the palace at once."
"The Empress's order?"
"His Majesty's order."
"What? Then His Majesty has entered the throne hall?"
"I don't know that far. But the same order went to the Crown Prince and all princes."
Yi Hwan steadied his gaze.
'Has the Emperor finally emerged from seclusion?'
It didn't feel good. But one couldn't ignore an imperial edict.
"We're going to the Imperial Palace."
"Yes."
* * *
Despite hurrying, numerous officials had already arrived and were waiting.
Yi Hwan scanned the throne first.
The Emperor was absent.
"You're here."
Yi Hwan sat beside Yi So. To his left sat Yi Tae-ji and Yi Seong-ji.
Yi Hwan transmitted to Yi So,
[Is His Majesty coming out?]
[The order came from the Empress.]
[I heard it was an imperial edict?]
[With the jade seal and His Majesty's seal in Her Majesty's hands, she's using them to fake an imperial edict.]
'I really didn't know that...'
Then the ministers stood. Officials followed, bowing their heads.
The Empress was entering.
Yi So and the princes all stood and bowed.
But Yi Hwan remained straight, staring directly at the Empress. Their gazes locked, then she snorted and turned her head away.
'The old fox's scheme will be revealed soon.'
The Empress sat, and ministers and officials followed. After brief formalities, she addressed everyone in a stern tone.
"The brazen Southwest King of Zhao has finally issued an ultimatum. Thus, I, as Empress, shall carry out His Majesty's will."
The hall fell silent.
An imperial edict governed the life and death of all in the realm. It was like a divine command none could defy.
The Empress conveyed the Emperor's edict.
"The Imperial Founder wished the imperial descendants to lead by example, guiding the people of the realm. Thus, countless princes have gone to the battlefield, bravely fighting the enemy and becoming models for all. I shall follow the late emperors' will: the Crown Prince and all princes are hereby commanded to take up arms on the battlefield for the fatherland!"
Boom!
The suffocating silence shattered.
Ministers murmured.
Yi So and Yi Tae-ji looked shocked. Yi Seong-ji alone closed his eyes without a twitch. Yi Hwan felt like he'd been struck hard in the back of the head.
'So that's it. What the old fox wanted.'
Everything became clear.
The Empress's goal was to send Crown Prince Yi So to the battlefield. Sending the other three princes was merely to avoid backlash.
'She plans to eliminate the Crown Prince on the battlefield.'
Yi Hwan stared at the Empress.
She glanced at the princes, her eyes meeting his. Seeing her smile, Yi Hwan transmitted,
[It won't go as you wish, stepmother.]
[What did you just say?]
[Step. Moth. Er. What, it's not wrong, is it?]
[You dare...]
Ignoring the Empress's reddening face, Yi Hwan turned to Yi So. He looked quite shocked.
'Is this the greatest crisis yet?'