Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Hwa Ryeong's Smile
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Yi Hwan's office.
Everyone, including Cheol Mu-ok, had gathered in one place.
“From this moment on, we begin our war with the Empress in earnest.”
At Yi Hwan's words, a heavy silence enveloped the room. Go Mi asked,
“Has the Crown Prince given his consent?”
“Of course.”
“Understood.”
“It may become far more dangerous than before.”
“I follow only Your Highness and the Great Prince's will. If needed, I will lay down my life.”
Yi Hwan gazed at Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae as he continued, in response to Go Mi's unyielding display of loyalty.
“Call in everyone, even those left behind in your hometowns. Not a single one left out.”
“Yes, sir!”
Ju Tae responded briskly. Cheol Mu-ok, on the other hand, fell into brief thought.
“Is there a problem?”
“I have some friends. May I bring them as well?”
“If they are your friends, they must be trustworthy. Why would I refuse?”
“Understood. I'll send Son Tae to fetch them. However, they are in a very distant place, so it will take quite some time.”
Ju Tae asked,
“Are they friends in some far-off foreign land?”
“Dongyeong.”
“What? D-Dongyeong?”
Ju Tae's eyes widened in shock. Yi Hwan and Go Mi also looked at Cheol Mu-ok with surprise.
Cheol Mu-ok continued,
“They are friends from Haedong. A few years ago, they moved to Dongyeong and have been active there. You'll like them when you meet them later.”
“Send for them immediately.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Go Mi asked,
“Have you devised a plan?”
“We'll start proper planning from today. For a while, I'll leave the Golden Army's official duties to the Deputy General. No one enters this office without my permission.”
“Understood.”
Come to think of it, Yu Woo-seong was absent. Yi Hwan had deliberately sent him on an errand. He would inform him when the time came, but for now, there was no need to reveal the great undertaking to him.
Ju Tae grinned and said,
“This is going to be one hell of an exhilarating fight.”
“You seem to be enjoying it.”
“Honestly, it does sound fun. I've never fought a battle like this before…”
“Everyone except the Moon Lord, leave us.”
“Yes.”
Moments later, Yi Hwan and Go Mi sat facing each other. Yi Hwan sipped his tea in silence for a while.
Go Mi wondered what he would say.
Clink.
“In this war, the Moon Lord will have to take on the biggest role. Victory or defeat will likely hinge on intelligence.”
“I will do my utmost.”
“The records you made investigating the corruption of high officials—examine them closely and reinforce any shortcomings. All of them, without distinction.”
“Even our own ministers?”
“How can we face the enemy without knowing our allies? Investigate everyone, without exception.”
“Understood.”
“And tomorrow, meet Hwa Ryeong and have her find out who has frequent contact with the Empress. But don't push for those who are hard to approach.”
“Yes. I will relay that.”
Yi Hwan lifted his teacup to his lips.
Clink.
“Suppose, just suppose. If the time comes when I must kill the Empress or the Imperial Princes, and I set out to do so—would you still serve with the same loyalty?”
“For me, the greater cause is the Crown Prince ascending the throne. For that, I will support whatever the Great Prince does.”
It was unexpected. He knew Go Mi's loyalty to Crown Prince Yi So was strong, but he hadn't realized it was this resolute and unwavering.
“That's fortunate.”
“What do you mean?”
“That the Moon Lord is on our side.”
“You flatter me.”
This time, Go Mi asked.
“What is it that the Great Prince desires?”
It was a question laden with deep meaning. But Yi Hwan answered without hesitation.
“I want the world to flow according to its natural order. If the Crown Prince's ascension is your greater cause, then let it be mine as well.”
“I will trust in that.”
Heh.
“You're worried I might covet the throne?”
“…….”
Go Mi could not deny it. It was true. She sometimes entertained such thoughts. What if Yi Hwan aimed for the throne, bypassing Yi So?
‘He might prove a tougher opponent than the Empress or the First Prince.’
That was her conclusion.
“Go and rest. Things will get busy starting tomorrow.”
“Promise me first.”
“You mean a promise not to covet the throne?”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan looked straight at Go Mi. She did not avert her gaze.
“How disappointing. To think you see me as that kind of person.”
“I never thought of the Great Prince as such. I only wish to strengthen my faith.”
“I promise. But on one condition.”
“…….”
“That the Crown Prince becomes a sage king. If that holds, your worries won't come to pass.”
“Is the definition of a sage king the Great Prince's subjective standard?”
“Yours. Is that enough?”
“Yes.”
Go Mi bowed her head and left. Yi Hwan leaned back in his chair with a wry smile.
‘Her loyalty to the Crown Prince is as steadfast as steel.’
Amid an inexplicable bitterness, Yi Hwan tilted his head back and gazed at the ceiling.
Then he chuckled softly.
‘If I had desired the emperor's power, your Yeon Kingdom would have fallen two hundred years ago. Qin and Zhao as well, of course.’
* * *
Palace of Illusory Flowers.
Hwa Ryeong gazed outside through her residence's window, leisurely tilting her teacup.
But inwardly, she was far from relaxed.
‘She was suspicious of me after all.’
After returning to the palace, she had sensed the Empress doubting her. At first, it was just an intuition-born anxiety, but from yesterday, it had been confirmed as fact.
‘Did she raise me from the start just to monitor me? All my subordinates too?’
Hwa Ryeong's eyes darkened ominously.
Her subordinates came to mind. Though not bound by blood, they shared emotions deeper than family—yet yesterday, she realized they were spying on her. She wanted to deny it, but it was undeniable. Today, she struggled to suppress the second betrayal she had ever felt.
‘Now that I can't trust anyone, can I really leave this place?’
If the Empress suspected her, she should leave, naturally. She could prove her loyalty and dispel the doubts, but Hwa Ryeong had no such intention.
There had been a faint lingering attachment. But since realizing her subordinates' betrayal yesterday, even that had vanished completely.
‘If I return, will he accept me?’
Yi Hwan came to mind.
Then Go Mi, Cheol Mu-ok, and Ju Tae flashed by in sequence.
Since their relationship had shifted from wary foes to comrades, the time spent with them had been a wholly new experience for Hwa Ryeong. Though brief, it had been enough to upend her life of living by the Empress's sword.
‘It might turn out to be a pretty good life with them.’
It was then.
“Lady Hwa Ryeong.”
A female attendant's voice drifted in from outside.
Hwa Ryeong steadied her wistful gaze and turned.
“Come in.”
The attendant entered.
“Her Majesty summons you.”
“Now?”
“Yes.”
Hwa Ryeong subtly darkened her eyes. The Empress had never called her at such a late hour.
“Understood. You may go.”
After the attendant left, Hwa Ryeong finished the remaining tea, donned her outer robe, and took her sword.
Clank.
As she turned, her sword accidentally brushed the teacup.
Crash!
The teacup fell and shattered on the floor.
Hwa Ryeong stared at the broken pieces for a moment before leaving her residence.
* * *
Hwa Ryeong bowed toward the Empress, who sat on the throne gazing at her regally.
“Have you recovered fully?”
“Yes. Thanks to the spirit pill Your Majesty bestowed, I have healed completely.”
“I'm glad it proved effective.”
For an instant, a sharp glint flashed in the Empress's eyes and vanished. But with her head bowed, Hwa Ryeong missed the change.
A faint smile played on the Empress's lips.
“Then I can assign you a mission.”
“Entrust me with anything.”
Snap!
The Empress snapped her fingers. The wall behind her parted, revealing a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man spoke directly to Hwa Ryeong.
“Your abilities are absolutely essential to win over the Grand Minister of Works.”
Hwa Ryeong finally raised her head.
The middle-aged man continued.
“To securely pull the Grand Minister to our side will give us the advantage in the power struggle with the Crown Prince's Palace. That's why I want you to step in.”
“If it's seduction rather than assassination…”
“That old man's quite the lecher, they say. Especially for a woman with large breasts like you—he can't get enough. I trust you understand fully.”
Twitch.
Hwa Ryeong's eyebrow twitched slightly. But the change was so minute that neither the Empress nor the middle-aged man noticed. The Empress said,
“Complete the mission, and I shall reward you greatly. Do your best.”
“Aren't there girls more beautiful than me?”
“Of course, there are many more beautiful than you. But none with your level of powerful martial arts and quick wits. What can be done?”
“…….”
The middle-aged man pressed her firmly.
“Why so silent? Do you intend to defy Her Majesty's command?”
“Of course not.”
Hwa Ryeong lowered her head.
“I shall obey Her Majesty's command.”
“You can be trusted, then?”
“No matter what it takes, I will make the Grand Minister kneel at Her Majesty's feet.”
A strange smile curved the Empress's lips.
“Inform the girl of the Grand Minister's schedule.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Empress gazed at Hwa Ryeong and smiled gently.
“The night is late. Retire and rest for today.”
* * *
“Why give the mission to that wench?”
At the middle-aged man's question, the Empress wore her characteristic smile.
“Didn't I say? There are girls around me more beautiful than her, but none with her powerful martial arts and resourcefulness.”
“But didn't you say she seemed suspicious after returning from the Northern Legion? If she harbors strange thoughts, she could bring harm to Your Majesty.”
“Hmph!”
The Empress smiled oddly.
“Worry not—it will never happen. Still, caution never hurts, so follow her and tell Hwa Ryeong.”
“Tell her what?”
“The spirit pill I gave her contains a Blood Gu. If she ever has disloyal thoughts, it will turn her into a puddle of blood.”
“……!”
The middle-aged man's eyes bulged.
The Blood Gu was a demonic parasite that lodged in the brain, controlling the host's mind and life at the commander's will.
Thus, two hundred years ago, Yi Hwan had forbidden all factions in the world from using Blood Gu. Yet it emerged from the Empress's lips.
“With the Blood Gu, that wench can be made into a loyal dog. I will inform her at once.”
The middle-aged man hurried after Hwa Ryeong out of the hall. A cruel smile spread across the Empress's lips.
“Should I have told her myself? Heh heh heh.”
* * *
“Seduction tactics…”
Hwa Ryeong's face flushed red as she left the Palace of Illusory Flowers. Her rising anger faded quickly, replaced by a bitter chuckle.
“I knew she still suspected me, but I didn't realize she thought so lowly of me.”
Instead of heading to her residence, Hwa Ryeong turned toward the artificial garden in the Palace of Illusory Flowers. At its center, a pond held a pavilion in the middle.
Hwa Ryeong walked across the water to the pavilion and sat on the railing, arms crossed, gazing at the night sky.
“I still had a bit of fondness left, but you've severed even that—don't blame me.”
Hwa Ryeong solidified her resolve to leave.
There was no longer reason to spend even this night here. Yet actually leaving filled her with mixed feelings.
Her desire for revenge against the betraying Empress was matched by her deep love-hate for the Palace of Illusory Flowers.
“The moonlight's disgustingly bright tonight.”
Hwa Ryeong swung her legs up onto the railing and leaned against the pillar.
Before leaving, she wanted to savor a bit more of the nostalgia this place held.
‘That said, will the Great Prince accept me now that my usefulness has waned?’
Whoosh.
A gentle breeze caressed Hwa Ryeong's face. It felt unusually warm tonight.
Hwa Ryeong closed her eyes.
But she opened them soon after.
The middle-aged man from the hall was walking across the water. Hwa Ryeong stared coldly at him, arms still crossed.
“Do you have more to say?”
“I have a message to deliver.”
“What is it?”
Standing on the water, the middle-aged man continued.
“If you betray Her Majesty, the Blood Gu inside you will drive you mad. Never forget these words while you still breathe.”
Tremble…
Hwa Ryeong's eyes shook violently.
The middle-aged man laughed coldly.
“From your expression, you seem to grasp it.”
“The spirit pill?”
The middle-aged man nodded silently and continued.
“As long as you harbor no ill intentions, nothing will happen, Hwa Ryeong.”
With that, he vanished like a ghost. Hwa Ryeong's trembling pupils flashed with sharp light for a moment, then she bared her pearly white teeth in a bright smile.
‘Things are suddenly getting really interesting.’