Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Starting from the Golden Army
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Having received Yi So's message from Go Mi, the first place Yi Hwan headed to was the Song family estate.
There was no longer any reason to keep it a secret, so he had to let Yi Yeong know he was alive.
The Song family estate came into view in the distance. Go Mi, who had been accompanying Yi Hwan, cautiously asked.
"When do you plan to enter the palace?"
"Wouldn't it be awkward to go right after deciding?"
"Then..."
"I'll go at an appropriate time."
"Yes."
A moment later, as they approached the main gate of the estate, two warriors who had been sweeping the path with brooms spotted Yi Hwan and jumped in fright.
"Gr-Great Prince!"
"The Great Prince is here!"
One warrior rushed into the estate shouting. The other prostrated himself on the ground.
"Have I done something too cruel?"
"It was an unavoidable choice for the greater good. Her Highness will understand."
Yi Hwan halted his steps.
He had spotted Song Cheon-ho rushing out. The man wasn't even wearing shoes.
"Great Prince!"
Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
Song Cheon-ho's eyes were already red.
* * *
"Brother..."
Tears streamed down Yi Yeong's cheeks.
Yi Hwan's heart ached. In just a month, she looked completely worn out by illness.
"Did you think I'd leave you behind first?"
"Hic!"
Yi Yeong collapsed forward, sobbing uncontrollably.
Go Mi, standing nearby, felt her own eyes moisten slightly. Unable to watch, she quietly turned her gaze away.
Yi Hwan took Yi Yeong's pulse. He wasn't a master physician, but he could gauge the flow of her qi.
"Stay still."
Yi Hwan channeled a suitable amount of pure qi into her body. In an instant, color returned to Yi Yeong's face.
"Cast aside all your worries now and focus on recovering. Don't worry about this brother anymore."
The entire Song family estate buzzed with excitement.
Warriors and servants alike dropped everything and gathered in the courtyard.
Among them were warriors from the Sword King and Blade King lineages tasked with guarding the Song family.
Song Cheon-ho stepped forward.
"Hurry and prepare rice and side dishes!"
"Yes, my lord!"
The servants rushed to the kitchen. The women grabbed rags and ran to the annexes, while Song Cheon-ho personally went to the storehouse to gather precious ingredients.
Someone watched over the vibrant Song family like this.
* * *
'To think the dead one returned alive.'
Yang Chan sat on the roof of a pavilion overlooking the Song family estate.
He peered at Yi Hwan through a window.
It was definitely a face he'd never seen before. Yet it didn't feel unfamiliar.
'If that one is truly a descendant of Daye Fortress...'
Yang Chan's eyes turned to the courtyard. Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae were there.
Yang Chan had been closely observing them since Yi Hwan arrived. He couldn't confirm just by looking that they were descendants of the Three Kings.
But he could tell at a glance that the aura they exuded was anything but ordinary.
Yang Chan gazed at Yi Hwan again.
He wanted to go down right now and ask. Are you truly a descendant of Daye Fortress?
'If that one is truly a descendant of Daye Fortress, and the same person who carved the Golden Horse Command in the Zhao Kingdom's palace...'
Then the harsh fate that had persisted for a hundred years could finally come to an end.
But the look in Yang Chan's eyes as he stared at Yi Hwan was ice-cold.
'The fate you and your ancestors imposed on me and my clan—you must pay the price for it.'
With someone before him who might end that fate, Yang Chan felt rage surging instead.
It was rage at his own life, and pity for his ancestors who had died without escaping their destiny.
Whoosh!
The wind howled, clawing at Yang Chan's body. But he didn't budge, simply staring at Yi Hwan.
Right now, he was pondering.
How to appear before Yi Hwan.
* * *
The next day.
Mun I-jong entered the Palace of Illusory Flowers. With no prior appointment, he waited a long time for the Empress to appear.
'That bastard was alive...'
Yi Hwan had appeared.
He hadn't seen him personally, but the warriors of Red Moon surveilling the Song family had confirmed it, so it was undoubtedly true.
Steam rose from the teacup, forming dew on Mun I-jong's mustache.
But the Empress still didn't appear. After waiting another half shichen, the door opened, and a long shadow stretched out.
It was the Empress.
"What brings you here?"
"I have urgent matters to discuss."
The Empress sat in her chair and looked down at Mun I-jong. He immediately informed her of Yi Hwan's return.
"The Fourth Imperial Prince has returned."
"What...!"
"My subordinates clearly witnessed him entering the Song family estate yesterday."
Tremble...
The Empress's eyes shook violently.
Was she shocked? She trembled in silence for a while, unable to speak.
"Elevating the Golden Army's role and authority has only given wings to the Fourth Imperial Prince."
At those words, the Empress's face finally flushed red. Considering she rarely showed her emotions, the shock must have been immense.
And rightly so—with the jade seal's proof, she couldn't retract it now even if she wanted to. Refusing at this point would be tantamount to defying not just the Emperor, but the foundation of the state.
The Empress finally erupted in fury.
"How! Why!"
Bang!
The chair's armrest snapped, sending splinters flying toward Mun I-jong.
Mun I-jong kept his head bowed.
He hadn't yet said what he truly wanted to. So he waited for the Empress's anger to subside.
The Empress fell silent for a long time.
Unable to wait any longer, Mun I-jong quietly raised his head and spoke.
"Before the Fourth Imperial Prince spreads his wings with the now more powerful Golden Army, why not eliminate him?"
"Tell me your thoughts!"
"If Your Majesty assists, I will personally step in and cut off that man's lifeline."
"What must I do!"
"Move the shadows of the Palace of Illusory Flowers."
Twitch.
The Empress's eyes changed.
"How do you know of them?"
"The Red Moon of old was the organization His Majesty cherished most. The information about the Palace of Illusory Flowers came directly from him, so please don't be too angry."
The ones Mun I-jong mentioned were top-secret among secrets. Even the Second Prince Yi Tae-ji, whom the Empress doted on so much, was largely unaware of their existence.
Mun I-jong bowed his head again and awaited the Empress's response.
The silence didn't last long.
The Empress's chilling voice pierced Mun I-jong's ears like a dagger.
"If you fail, I will cut off your head myself."
"I will surely present that man's head to Your Majesty."
Mun I-jong's forehead touched the floor. A sticky smile spread across his lips.
He had truly hoped Yi Hwan was dead. But he had returned alive.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed. But now, a true chance for revenge had come.
'In the end, I get to kill you with my own hands.'
* * *
Golden Army headquarters.
Yu U-seong, who had been leading the Golden Army in Yi Hwan's stead, reddened his eyes.
"I believed you were alive."
"Then why are you crying."
"Tears just come. Sniff."
Yi Hwan patted Yu U-seong's shoulder at his neither crying nor laughing expression, then sat in the chair. It felt unfamiliar after so long.
"Any issues?"
"We have a problem."
"What?"
Wiping his eyes, Yu U-seong continued.
"A few days ago, two high-ranking generals from the Second Prince's side came to headquarters. A clash occurred while they were recruiting our generals, resulting in casualties. I didn't realize at first, but later investigation revealed they were from the Young Tiger Clan."
"Those wounds too?"
"Yes."
Bloodstains marked Yu U-seong's cheek and neck.
"Any casualties?"
"Yes. Two dead, three seriously injured."
"Where are they now?"
"They probably don't know you've returned, so they're likely drinking with the recruited generals at their quarters."
Yi Hwan turned to Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae.
"Go drag them here."
"Yes."
"If they resist, kill a few on the spot as an example."
"Understood."
Yu U-seong left with Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae. Yi Hwan leaned back in the chair, interlocking his fingers.
Go Mi cautiously spoke up.
"This is a good opportunity to clean up the Golden Army from the inside. Start by dealing with the recruited generals."
"I was planning to anyway."
His response was calm, but Go Mi instinctively sensed it. A bloodstorm no one could withstand was about to sweep through the Golden Army.
A moment later.
Commotion erupted outside.
"Walk straight, you bastards!"
Thud!
"Urk!"
Crash!
Following the sound of something breaking, the door opened, and two bloodied generals entered. Ju Tae wiped the blood from his hands on one general's clothes.
"These are the bastards, Great Prince."
Yi Hwan looked at the two generals impassively.
Ju Tae stomped on their knees.
"Kneel!"
Thud!
Plop!
The two generals dropped to their knees.
"From the Young Tiger Clan?"
"......"
"Not answering?"
Thud!
One general toppled forward from Ju Tae's kick, his nose and lips splitting open.
Drip.
"Y-Yes."
"Inciting the generals was on the Second Prince's orders, right?"
"......"
Thud!
Ju Tae's kick struck another general's back. The man grimaced in pain and shouted desperately.
"Y-Yes! We were just following orders!"
"Whether by orders or not, you admit to inciting the generals?"
"......Yes."
"And to committing murder?"
"That was due to the situation..."
"You're saying you didn't kill them?"
"We did kill, but..."
"Enough. Stop there."
Yi Hwan turned to Yu U-seong.
"Deputy General."
"Yes, Great Prince!"
"Assemble all generals in the training grounds immediately."
"Understood!"
* * *
The generals gathered in the headquarters training grounds.
Excluding those out on missions, there were about fifty.
The generals couldn't hide their surprise at Yi Hwan's appearance.
"Woo!"
"The Great Prince is back!"
The cheers divided sharply between jubilant generals and those who weren't. They were shocked again seeing the bloodied Young Tiger Clan generals dragged out.
Yi Hwan had them kneel before the generals.
"Those who sided with them, step forward."
The generals murmured. But none came forward readily.
"If you want a chance at forgiveness, come out now."
Then.
One general hesitated and stepped forward. Once one did, a few more followed. Some were pushed from behind.
Clang.
Cheol Mu-ok dropped his sword.
"Kneel, execute."
Swish!
Realizing the atmosphere was dire, the generals knelt in unison.
Yi Hwan swept his gaze over them before speaking lowly.
"For an army to endure, discipline must be upheld. Anyone who disrupts it will not be forgiven."
Shing.
Yi Hwan drew his sword.
The two Young Tiger Clan generals paled in terror. But it was brief.
Slash!
Thud!
Two heads hit the ground.
The kneeling generals trembled. Yi Hwan addressed them all sternly.
"From now on, anyone who undermines the army's discipline or morale will end up like them. Understood?"
"Yes!"
The generals' response boomed like new recruits.
Yi Hwan stared at the kneeling ones.
"Prepare to depart by tomorrow morning and assemble here again."
* * *
Ju Tae asked.
"Shouldn't we behead those too?"
"Fear grows greater when paired with corresponding mercy."
"What does that..."
Cheol Mu-ok grabbed Ju Tae's nape.
"To the Northern Legion?"
"Southern Legion."
Yi Hwan issued the order immediately.
"Send a messenger to Commander Paeng right away. Handle the content yourself."
"Understood."
* * *
Southern Legion.
A messenger was unfolded in Commander Paeng Mu-wi's hand.
"'Work them like dogs, dead or alive'?"
That's what it said.
Jeong Cheon asked.
"What does that mean?"
"Read it."
After checking the contents, Jeong Cheon smiled faintly as if understanding.
"The Great Prince is sending us some hardheads."
"I was miffed when he sent the ones caught in that Rectification Movement to the Northern Legion last time, but this works out perfectly. Time to show them we're scarier than the Northern Legion."
Paeng Mu-wi, bored since the war's end, ignited with enthusiasm.
'Daring to rot our Great Prince's army from within? You're all dead, you dogs.'