Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Buying Time
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The Empress's jade-like face flushed red.
The carrier pigeon scroll clutched in her hand turned to ash and scattered.
The scroll was from Hwa Ryeong, detailing how the team sent to eliminate Yi Hwan had all perished.
The Empress remained still for a time, eyes closed.
In the heavy atmosphere, no one watching her dared ask what was wrong.
How much time passed in that suffocating silence? The Empress finally opened her eyes.
"Is there truly no one left in the Northern Legion we can communicate with?"
A middle-aged man answered cautiously.
"Your Majesty has loyal forces there, of course. But since some point, the carrier pigeons for contact have been strictly controlled, making communication difficult. It seems the one Hwa Ryeong used was the last."
Fsssh...
Smoke rose from the armrest of the chair she gripped. It was a new chair, replaced after she burned the previous one not long ago.
The middle-aged man finally ventured a careful question.
"Did they fail?"
"They moved to eliminate the Fourth Imperial Prince, that bastard, and only Hwa Ryeong survived while the rest died."
"......!"
The chamber stirred.
"Then send stronger ones, Your Majesty."
At those words, the Empress fell silent once more. She struggled to compose her emotions, but the anger that had flared would not easily subside.
'I set up the board just as I wanted. Yet the situation is veering completely off course.'
The Western Legion had fallen to Crown Prince Yi So.
The Northern Legion also seemed to be tilting favorably toward Yi Hwan. And they still hadn't even located Crown Prince Jo Gwang of Zhao.
'In the end, it's because I didn't properly gauge their abilities. Especially the Crown Prince—I underestimated him far too much.'
Though the assassination had failed, to the Empress, Yi Hwan was still a mere side branch.
Even now, she believed that dealing with Crown Prince Yi So would make Yi Hwan fall like a bonus.
"I will concentrate our full strength in one place."
"Please issue your command, Your Majesty."
"Leave the Fourth Imperial Prince and Zhao's Crown Prince be for now. Instead, select the strongest from our ranks and send them to the Western Legion. Zhao's offensive will begin soon—use that moment, and achieving our goal won't be difficult."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Also, have her return swiftly via the carrier pigeon Hwa Ryeong sent."
"Understood."
As everyone exited the hall, the Empress sank deep into her chair, her gaze settling.
'Those two were stronger than Hwa Ryeong. Yet even with them joining, they failed...'
She had decided to leave Yi Hwan alone for now, but an inexplicable unease and lingering discomfort refused to fade.
She pondered deeply once more.
After about an incense stick's time?
"You there!"
At her call, the middle-aged man reentered the hall. The Empress issued an immediate order.
"Investigate Northern Legion Commander Gwak Chung-mu. Bring me even the tiniest blemish immediately. It seems I need to shake him first and drive a wedge between him and that man."
"Commander Gwak is so incorruptible that there's really..."
"If there's none, fabricate one and bring it!"
"......Yes."
"And spread a rumor in Zhao's Imperial Palace that Crown Prince Jo Gwang is hiding in the Northern Legion. As quickly as possible."
"Won't that make Zhao focus their forces on the Northern Legion instead of the western front? That would make things easier for the Crown Prince—is that alright?"
"Even if they reinforce the Northern Legion, they won't pull troops from the western front. Do as I say."
"......Understood."
The middle-aged man exited the hall again. The Empress drained her cold tea and rose, shaking her robes.
"I will go to the hot springs."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
* * *
Go Mi eyed Hwa Ryeong, who lay on the bed with arms crossed, her expression uneasy. She couldn't understand why Yi Hwan had taken Hwa Ryeong in.
"It's uncomfortable with you staring like that."
"What's your purpose?"
"Purpose? I just grabbed the Great Prince's helping hand to survive. And your words are too curt."
"It's a position lofty enough to warrant disdain toward a mere Palace of Illusory Flowers warrior. You know that well enough."
"I admit it. The Moon Lord of Moon Pavilion has every right."
Go Mi's eyes changed.
She had suspected Hwa Ryeong might know her identity, and sure enough, she did.
But she wasn't wearing her human skin mask right now.
"How did you know I'm Moon Pavilion's Moon Lord?"
"Don't underestimate the Palace of Illusory Flowers' intelligence network. It's far more formidable than the world knows."
"Then spill everything about that formidable network."
"Fine. But let me recover first. Even talking is agony right now."
Whoosh!
Go Mi tossed something she held to Hwa Ryeong. It was a small pouch containing recovery pills for internal injuries.
"A pill?"
"It's the Great Prince's order to keep you alive, so I have no choice. I'd rather you just died."
"Because you can't trust me?"
"I trust someone else."
Bang!
Hwa Ryeong gave a wry smile at Go Mi's attitude as she slammed the door and left.
She lay back on the bed and let out a deep breath.
"Don't be like that. I'm confused enough as it is. I want to die."
Taking Yi Hwan's hand was betrayal of the Empress, if it was betrayal. That word etched into Hwa Ryeong's heart like a carving.
"Haa..."
With a heavy sigh, Hwa Ryeong sat up abruptly, took a pill from the pouch, and popped it into her mouth.
The pill melted on her tongue and slid down her throat.
A refreshing energy spread rapidly through her body.
But only for a moment.
Hwa Ryeong's face reddened. Her insides boiled like poured scalding water, intense pain surging up.
That was when.
"Circulate your qi properly. Mess it up, and your guts might melt."
Go Mi's voice drifted from outside the door.
'You brat, why didn't you say so earlier?'
Hwa Ryeong hastily dropped to the floor, crossed her legs, cupped her hands into circles over her dantian, and began circulating her qi.
Her whole body was already drenched in cold sweat from the excruciating pain.
'It hurts...'
* * *
"Hoo!"
Yi Hwan finished training and stood.
Drip, drip!
Sweat fell from his face like raindrops.
'Since when has there been no more progress? What's the problem?'
Lately, the heart method's effects had dwindled, then vanished entirely at some point. The serious part was he had no idea why.
His current level was enough for top-tier expert status, but Yi Hwan could never be satisfied. Unless he fully returned to his past self, anxiety would linger in his heart.
Clunk!
Yi Hwan stepped into the camp's backyard. He lay directly on a snow pile.
Splat!
He cooled his heated body that way. After some time?
"Great Prince, may I enter?"
Go Mi's voice came from beyond the door.
"It's fine."
Go Mi entered the backyard.
Yi Hwan gazed at her from the snow.
"Did you give her the medicine?"
"Yes."
"You still don't like it, I see."
"She's untrustworthy. Once recovered, she'll surely return to the Empress's side."
"We'll see. Anyway, how's the Zhao side?"
Go Mi steadied her gaze and continued.
"Their forces are steadily increasing. Yesterday, hundreds of martial artists newly joined."
"After taking a hit, they're furious, it seems."
"Zhao's total force numbers two million. Even if half come here, the Northern Legion might not hold."
"It sounds like this place could become as fierce a battlefield as the western front. You think it will?"
"I hope not."
Yi Hwan rose.
Snow clinging to his body melted quickly, flowing like sweat.
"How's your training?"
"I'm working hard."
"I'll go to the Commander. Wait a moment."
"Yes."
* * *
Yi Hwan and Gwak Chung-mu sat facing each other.
But Gwak Chung-mu's expression was unusually stiff, almost angry.
"Is something wrong?"
"A letter arrived from the Imperial Palace."
Gwak Chung-mu pulled out the letter and offered it. After reading, Yi Hwan furrowed his brow.
"Is everything here true?"
"No chance. None involve me at all."
"Then it's the Empress's scheme, but no issue, right? It's wartime; they can't summon the Legion Commander mid-war."
Yi Hwan said it, then frowned again.
"No. Your son could be a problem."
"......"
The letter detailed Gwak Chung-mu's alleged corruption and his son's involvements. All false, but it weighed on Gwak.
"I'm sorry."
"......Pardon?"
"Probably my fault. They think shaking you will distance us. It's obvious, but effective..."
Yi Hwan trailed off.
It wasn't easy to dismiss. No one in the capital or palace could protect Gwak's son now.
Both he and the Crown Prince were tied to the fronts, leaving scant check on the Empress's whims.
'Do I have to take this hit?'
As Yi Hwan frowned silently, Gwak spoke.
"I'm fine. Don't worry, Great Prince."
"I'm not."
Yi Hwan rose and went to the window.
Gwak Chung-mu and Go Mi watched, awaiting his words.
After a moment, Yi Hwan turned to Gwak.
"First, evacuate your family somewhere safe. Preventing the Empress from using them as leverage is priority."
"Is there anywhere safe in the capital under Her Majesty's control?"
"There is. If you agree, we'll move immediately."
"For my household's safety, I'll follow your will, Great Prince."
"Understood. And you must do something."
"What?"
Yi Hwan returned to his seat and continued.
"Send a pigeon to the Empress. Say you'll enter the palace to clarify everything openly, pledge full loyalty until then."
"I can't leave camp!"
"No need to go. Your oath will make her relax. She'll likely reply with demands first."
"Like, don't support you."
Yi Hwan nodded silently. Gwak said resolutely.
"Understood. I'll send it to the palace at once."
Yi Hwan looked to Go Mi. She stepped forward and relayed her report to Gwak verbatim. At its end, his face hardened again.
"I thought they'd only tie our feet with minimal forces..."
"How many troops at the northernmost front?"
"Combining three posts, about a hundred thousand."
The northernmost front held barbarian incursions eyeing the central plains, not Zhao. Zhao shared borders too.
"Can't pull from there?"
"They'd invade if we did. But we could manage thirty thousand discreetly."
"Call them anyway. If this falls, all's lost."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan and Gwak continued on other matters. Go Mi watched with a strange expression.
'Since when has the Great Prince led everything? Is the Commander going along with his momentum? Or overwhelmed like the Southern Legion's Commander?'
Go Mi thought the former more likely. Gwak wouldn't be overwhelmed by any prince. But the latter nagged her. If true?
'Surely the Great Prince isn't using mind-control sorcery.'
Even growing accustomed, such scenes still amazed Go Mi.
Then Yi Hwan turned to her.
"Scouting again today?"
"Yes. After sunset."
"Go with Ju Tae. Find why Zhao's suddenly reinforcing. He's good at capturing tongues—should help."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan drained his tea and rose.
Gwak escorted him out of command. Watching Yi Hwan head to his tent, he murmured a soft breath.
'Blood doesn't lie, they say? He reminds me more of His Majesty in his youth.'