Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: The Road to the Palace (1)
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The Imperial Palace's forbidden zone.
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong met again. Hwa Ryeong asked,
“What did the Great Prince say?”
“He said to come anytime.”
“Please convey my thanks.”
“Has the situation gotten any worse, by chance?”
“It’s the worst.”
“…….”
Hwa Ryeong rubbed her chest with both hands in a gesture as she continued.
“I’ve been ordered to seduce the Prime Minister. That old lecher likes women with big breasts, apparently. Isn’t it ridiculous?”
“So what are you going to do? Are you really going to follow the order?”
“Am I crazy?”
“You’re defying the Empress’s command?”
“Of course. But I’ll pretend to obey while digging for more information. Thanks to that, I can leave the Palace of Illusory Flowers freely, so it’s actually a good thing. If it gets dangerous, I can slip out anytime. By the way, if the Empress wants the Prime Minister, shouldn’t we step in too? Like, if I can’t bring him to our side, just eliminate him or something. I can handle it if you want.”
“We’re preparing too, so don’t get any funny ideas. Anyway, doesn’t it mean she doesn’t trust you if she gave you that order? Maybe you should get out now…….”
Hwa Ryeong grinned broadly.
“Are you worried about me right now?”
“Cut the chit-chat. I’m just doing this because I think you can help the Great Prince even a little.”
“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself just fine. Anyway, please tell the Great Prince thanks. That’s it for today.”
Hwa Ryeong turned to leave.
Go Mi watched Hwa Ryeong’s retreating figure for a while.
Then Hwa Ryeong turned back.
“Let’s have a drink sometime.”
“We’ll see.”
“I’ll look forward to it. Bye.”
Hwa Ryeong left the forbidden zone. Go Mi stared at her fading figure, furrowing her brow.
But today, Hwa Ryeong seemed truly pitiful.
Seduction was the most humiliating thing for an ordinary woman. For someone with Hwa Ryeong’s high pride, it must have been even worse.
‘But why is she acting so cheerful?’
* * *
The next morning.
Yi Hwan sat face-to-face with the envoy from the Qin Kingdom.
Yi Hwan served the envoy, who had come to pay respects before departing, authentic Song family Dragon Well tea.
“Did your talk with the Empress go well?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, I can return home safely.”
Yi Hwan didn’t ask what they discussed. It would be rude, and besides, the envoy wouldn’t answer anyway.
“It’s truly fortunate that the war didn’t escalate further. I sincerely pray for the souls of the warriors who lost their lives on the battlefield, Great Prince.”
“Thank you.”
They exchanged brief well-wishes.
Namgung Jang-cheon and Danri Mok, who were attending, couldn’t take their eyes off Yi Hwan even as they drank their tea.
They had felt it before, but today Yi Hwan seemed even greater and more imposing to them.
Namgung Jang-cheon, who knew Yi Hwan to some extent, was especially astonished anew.
‘Only after seeing him a few times do I fully grasp how remarkable he is. If I had faced him in the Southern Legion back then…….’
Namgung Jang-cheon shuddered inwardly at the thought he didn’t even want to entertain.
At that moment, Yi Hwan looked at Namgung Jang-cheon.
“Have we met before?”
“……!”
Namgung Jang-cheon nearly choked. But he composed himself and replied calmly.
“I must have a very common face.”
“That face isn’t common.”
“…….”
‘No way…….’
Namgung Jang-cheon’s heart raced.
But Yi Hwan soon turned to the envoy.
“I hope your journey is safe.”
“Thank you, Great Prince. Then we shall take our leave.”
Soon after, the Qin Kingdom envoy group left the Golden Army headquarters. Yi Hwan saw them off to the main gate.
How much time passed? A group of riders galloped up.
Cheol Mu-ok said,
“They seem to be messengers from the Imperial Palace.”
As he said, they were messengers from the Imperial Palace. They conveyed the Empress’s order to enter the palace in two days for an important meeting and then departed.
* * *
Two days later.
Yi Hwan headed to the Imperial Palace with only Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae. The clear weather they’d had for a while turned to rain from the morning.
Inside the carriage, Yi Hwan sat cross-legged, circulating his breathing technique. The carriage interior filled with intense heat in an instant. His face grew slick with sweat.
After about the time it takes to eat a meal, Yi Hwan opened his eyes and exhaled softly.
“Hoo…….”
His expression was dark.
At some point, he had stopped making any progress. He had searched for the problem but found no answers.
Today was the same.
‘If he had perfectly inherited the Blood Demon’s legacy…….’
He thought of Jo Yun.
If Jo Yun had fully inherited the Blood Demon’s legacy, Yi Hwan likely wouldn’t be his match in his current state.
Rattle!
Yi Hwan opened the window.
The rain cooled his heated face.
Then,
“My lord, the Third Prince’s carriage is moving ahead.”
Yi Hwan stuck his head out further and looked forward. A carriage and dozens of riders were heading toward the Imperial Palace.
It was undoubtedly Yi Seong-ji’s carriage, which he had seen at the palace before.
“I hate trouble, so don’t follow too closely.”
“Yes.”
* * *
Yi Seong-ji played go with his master Gong Ya-un inside the carriage. Despite the jolting ride, the stones on the board didn’t budge, as if weighed down by a thousand catties.
Gong Ya-un looked at Yi Seong-ji, who showed unprecedented focus, with pity in his eyes.
‘He’s completely changed since his face was injured.’
Indeed.
Since that day, Yi Seong-ji’s demeanor had shifted dramatically. Before, he had been flexible like a willow swaying in spring breeze; now, he was stark like a withered tree standing in the middle of a snow-covered plain.
What worried Gong Ya-un more was that his speech had decreased sharply, causing communication issues. Even today, he had tried to talk before the game, but Yi Seong-ji hadn’t responded.
“Your move is too slow, Master.”
“Ah, yes.”
Gong Ya-un placed a stone on a part of the large group that was being fiercely pursued.
Clack.
“That’s not like you, Master.”
“It’s unavoidable if I want to save the group.”
Then,
“Your Highness, the Fourth Prince’s carriage is following from behind.”
At the voice from outside, Yi Seong-ji set down the stone he held and opened the window.
Rattle!
About a hundred paces back, a carriage followed. He recognized it at a glance as Yi Hwan’s, having seen it at the palace once.
Yi Seong-ji’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘Just two escorts.’
Gong Ya-un confirmed Yi Hwan’s carriage through the opposite window and said,
“The Fourth Prince’s confidence is sky-high. To set out with only two in a situation like this.”
“There are probably more hidden.”
“Shall we meet?”
“No. My brother won’t welcome me, so I’ll see him at the palace.”
Clack.
Yi Seong-ji closed the window and sat back.
Gong Ya-un did the same.
They resumed the game without exchanging a word until it ended.
* * *
Rumble!
Crackle!
The rain, which they thought was just passing, grew fiercer. Strong winds joined in, snapping and toppling trees everywhere.
“If a tree or pile of earth falls on the road like this, it’ll be a headache. If we’re late, the Empress will be furious.”
“We can only hope it doesn’t.”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae watched the road ahead intently.
With only one path on the official road, a landslide blocking it would mean they couldn’t enter the palace on time.
“By the way, why are they traveling in such a huge group just to go to the palace?”
“They got hit once, so they have to be careful. I heard his face was pretty badly damaged.”
“The Second Prince’s doing?”
“Possibly.”
“If it was the Second Prince, did the Empress know in advance?”
“Who knows.”
“Can’t you answer properly?”
“I will.”
“Damn!”
Then,
Rumble!
A low roar echoed from ahead.
Ju Tae, who had been glaring at Cheol Mu-ok and snorting, widened his eyes.
“What? That’s the sound of a landslide!”
“This is…….”
Rumble!
Kabrumm!
The roar continued for a while.
“Did the Third Prince pass safely?”
“We’ll know when we see.”
Thud thud thud!
* * *
“My lord, the road is blocked.”
Yi Hwan, who had dozed off briefly, opened his eyes at Cheol Mu-ok’s voice.
Looking out the window, a massive pile of earth and trees loomed ahead like a giant grave. Yi Hwan headed toward Yi Seong-ji’s group gathered before it.
It seemed the landslide had happened just before they could pass.
“We can’t take the carriage on a detour.”
“No choice. We’ll go on foot.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan stepped out of the carriage.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae climbed down from the driver’s seat. The three left the carriage on the road and took the side path.
Leaving the carriage posed no issue.
The Golden Army flag on it ensured it would be returned to them if found.
Then a warrior from Yi Seong-ji’s side ran up.
“His Highness invites you to go together.”
Yi Hwan didn’t reply but stared toward Yi Seong-ji. He was looking their way just then.
“Tell him we’ll meet at the palace.”
“His Highness wishes it, so please join us, Great Prince.”
“Tell him I have things to think about and want to go quietly.”
“Understood.”
The warrior left.
Yi Hwan strode into the woods. Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae followed.
Pour!
Whoosh!
The weather was ominous. He had never seen rain this heavy at the start of early spring.
Yi Hwan pushed through the wind-tossed forest toward the Imperial Palace. Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae followed, scanning the surroundings. If assassins targeted Yi Hwan, this weather was ideal for them and disastrous for him.
How much further did they go?
The ridge ended, opening into a vast shrubland. So barren and near the capital, farming and even hunting were forbidden, making it almost untouched wilderness.
“My lord, the Third Prince’s group is approaching.”
They had chosen to go on foot too.
“Ignore them and go.”
“Yes.”
Kwooo!
Vortices swirled across the shrubland.
Soil and bushes shot up fifty paces high before scattering, a vivid display of nature’s fury.
Flutter! Flutter!
His long robe billowed as if to tear.
The wind was so fierce he couldn’t walk properly without internal energy.
* * *
Yi Seong-ji watched Yi Hwan’s figure walking far ahead, his gaze steady.
‘Why is he avoiding me?’
The self-question ended in a bitter smile.
‘Well, he’s allied with my brother, so of course he sees me as an enemy. After all, I’m the Empress’s son.’
Now, Yi Hwan was the acknowledged strongest ally and force for the Crown Prince. That made him a formidable enemy for the Empress and the Second Prince.
‘That frail kid grew into something amazing. But don’t oppose me, brother. I’m not the kind of person the world thinks I am.’
A glint flashed in Yi Seong-ji’s deeply sunken eyes.