Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Experts of the Crown Prince's Palace
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The court officials attending the morning assembly buzzed loudly over the news of Yi Hwan's safe return.
The mood split evenly between those who welcomed it and those who didn't. If divided precisely, those opposed held a slight majority.
This meant the Empress's faction still dominated among the officials.
The Prime Minister and Grand Marshal, who served as the leaders among the officials, along with the heads of the Six Ministries, waited in heavy silence for the Empress's arrival.
"The Crown Prince arrives!"
Everyone rose from their seats.
Yi So entered next. He gave a light nod to the Prime Minister and Grand Marshal before taking his seat.
One official asked Yi So,
"Is it true that the Fourth Imperial Prince has returned?"
"I have no confirmation."
"If even Your Highness is unaware, who would know?"
"I said I have no confirmation."
Dismissing the official's question, Yi So closed his eyes. No one dared ask further.
It was then.
"Her Majesty the Empress arrives!"
Everyone rose again. Yi So slowly stood, eyes fixed on the entrance to the hall.
The Empress entered.
In that fleeting moment, their gazes clashed sharply across the air. Yi So bowed calmly.
Once seated, the Empress looked down at Yi So and asked,
"Rumors are circulating that the Fourth Imperial Prince has returned. Does the Crown Prince know anything of it?"
"This humble servant has heard only the rumors."
Though inwardly seething at Yi So's composed demeanor, the Empress showed no sign of it.
The Prime Minister then rose and spoke quietly.
"We planned to discuss the appointment of the next Golden Army commander at today's assembly, but with rumors of the Fourth Imperial Prince's return, it seems we must postpone."
"We cannot delay the court's schedule over mere rumors! Proceed as planned!"
"No! With the Fourth Imperial Prince returned, we must revoke the appointment altogether!"
"It's just a rumor!"
"That rumor might be true, so we must verify it first!"
"Quite right!"
The Empress's officials protested the delay, while Yi So's faction argued back, and the atmosphere heated up in an instant.
The Empress watched silently. Even though she had received reports of Yi Hwan's return through Mun I-jong, she acted this way because she couldn't bear to abandon even the slimmest hope.
'Stir up as much chaos as possible and wait for the Grand Overseer to eliminate him.'
The Empress stared at Yi So.
Fury boiled within her at his calm, closed-eyed pose, but given the setting, she could not show it.
Feigning composure, she asked,
"What is the Crown Prince's view?"
Yi So opened his eyes and replied,
"Adhering to the court's schedule is of course important, but verifying the rumor takes precedence, does it not?"
"So you suggest delaying?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Until when?"
"That is for Your Majesty to decide."
The Empress's brows arched gracefully.
'Passing the hot potato to me, is he? Sly fox.'
It was then.
A long shadow stretched into the hall. All eyes turned to the entrance.
"The Great Prince!"
"Oh!"
Yi Hwan was entering.
The officials could not hide their shock at his appearance. The Empress bit her lip subtly, while Yi So smiled faintly.
Yi Hwan walked to the center of the hall and stood before the Empress. Their gazes locked across the air, invisible sparks flying.
"I apologize for being late."
* * *
The assembly ended anticlimactically.
Yi Hwan and Yi So headed side by side to the Crown Prince's Palace. Yi So's face bore a persistent smile.
Go Mi, waiting outside, bowed to them.
"How did it go?"
Instead of answering, Yi Hwan handed her a scroll. It bore a clear imperial seal alongside expanded Golden Army authority.
Go Mi's eyes widened round.
'This is practically Grand Commander-in-Chief level...'
Yi Hwan had previously received the rank of Commander-in-Chief. But while the rank was one thing, his actual authority fell far short.
Now, the enhanced authority rivaled that of a Grand Commander-in-Chief. What surprised Go Mi most was that in emergencies, Yi Hwan could mobilize forces independently, across the entire Yeon Kingdom.
"You look quite shocked."
"Honestly, yes. I never imagined it would be elevated to this extent."
"Thank the Empress."
"Congratulations, Great Prince."
Yi So said with a laugh.
"The Moon Lord should have seen those fools' faces. Hahaha."
'The Crown Prince seems even happier than the Great Prince himself.'
Moments later, the three entered the Crown Prince's Palace. Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae awaited inside.
"How did it go?"
"Take a look at this."
Go Mi handed the two the document from the scroll. Soon, Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae's eyes widened just like hers.
"Wow!"
"This makes the hundred thousand Golden Army practically the Great Prince's private force. Congratulations!"
Yi So addressed the two.
"Your roles have grown even heavier. From now on, support my brother even more diligently than before."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Yes!"
Just then, Gwan Ji-baek entered.
"The banquet is prepared, so please come in. We've specially arranged Haedong cuisine today."
* * *
People were already gathered in the banquet hall.
Five in total. Each exuded the aura of a supreme expert as they bowed to Yi So and Yi Hwan entering.
'The experts of the Crown Prince's Palace?'
Yi So introduced Yi Hwan to the five.
"This is my brother. Pay your respects."
"We greet the Great Prince."
"These are my cherished warriors. You'll see them often, so get acquainted today."
"Pleased to meet you. I am Yi Hwan."
Moments later, the banquet began.
Yi Hwan and the others marveled at the Haedong dishes they tasted for the first time.
Unlike the rich, oily Central Plains cuisine, these were light yet bursting with umami, making it impossible to set down their chopsticks.
"Does the palace have Haedong chefs?"
"Indeed. And that fellow over there hails from Haedong as well."
Yi So pointed to one of the five.
Yi Hwan's gaze naturally turned to the man Yi So indicated. Unlike his appearance reminiscent of the mighty Zhang Fei of Shu Han, he possessed deep, heavy eyes.
Yi So's transmission voice continued.
[His fist is acknowledged by all as the strongest under heaven.]
[How did he come to join the Crown Prince's Palace?]
[Various circumstances. I'll arrange a meeting when the chance arises.]
Perhaps due to the introduction,
Yi Hwan felt drawn to the man. Just then, Jang Han looked up, their eyes meeting.
Yi Hwan raised his cup.
Jang Han lifted his own in response, bowing his head slightly. Thus began the bond with the man who would later be called the Fist King.
* * *
At Third Prince Yi Seong-ji's residence.
Gong Ya-un received his subordinate's report, unable to hide his surprise.
"...The Fourth Imperial Prince has returned?"
"Yes. He attended today's assembly."
Gong Ya-un's brows furrowed slightly.
"The Empress tried her petty tricks and ended up giving wings to the Crown Prince's Palace."
"Indeed. Rumors say the enhanced authority rivals the Grand Commander-in-Chief's, and some clauses surpass it. Considering the Crown Prince's Palace and the Fourth Imperial Prince's relationship, it's no exaggeration to say they've handed over not just wings, but a sharp sword."
"Investigate the enhanced clauses in detail and bring them to me. As quickly as possible."
"Understood."
Gong Ya-un leaned back in his chair, his gaze steadying.
"No matter how I think about it, something's off."
"What do you mean?"
"In a situation where not even a corpse was confirmed, to be so certain of his death and proceed like that. It's utterly unlike the Empress."
"Even the Empress makes mistakes sometimes, doesn't she?"
"This isn't a mistake—it's a disaster. Anyway, that's their problem, but we've got headaches too. The stronger the Crown Prince's Palace grows, the more power we'll have to pour in."
"True."
The subordinate nodded gravely.
Gong Ya-un shot to his feet. The subordinate rose and asked,
"Where are you going?"
"I need to enter the palace. Prepare the carriage."
"Entering the palace so suddenly...?"
"I'll explain on the way. Hurry."
"Yes."
Moments later, Gong Ya-un boarded Yi Seong-ji's carriage headed for the Imperial Palace. Five men, including two on the driver's seat, escorted him.
Clatter-clatter!
The carriage sped along at a good pace.
Gong Ya-un opened the window, gazing at the passing scenery.
'Our rivals are building their forces step by step, while we haven't advanced a single inch...'
The issue was when Yi Seong-ji's training would end. With him absent, there was almost nothing they could do, and if time dragged on, the gap would only widen.
'The once-balanced power is tilting toward the Crown Prince bit by bit. The Fourth Imperial Prince—his unexpected return has reshaped the board.'
In truth, Gong Ya-un had scoffed when he first saw Yi Hwan. Beyond the rumors, Yi Hwan had seemed like a typical imperial prince—nothing more, nothing less.
Yet now, he had emerged as a central figure in the power struggle.
'The Empress and Second Prince won't stay idle. For now, we'll watch their clash and seek an opening to slip through.'
Flutter!
A leaf carried by the wind flew toward Gong Ya-un's face. But as it neared, it shattered into pieces and scattered.
It was then.
"The Fourth Imperial Prince's carriage is ahead."
"Pull to the roadside."
"Yes."
Gong Ya-un's carriage hugged the edge. Moments later, he saw Yi Hwan's carriage speeding past.
Through the open window, Gong Ya-un caught Yi Hwan's face. At that instant, Yi Hwan looked his way, and their gazes locked across the moment.
Clatter-clatter!
'That gaze...'
Thump.
Gong Ya-un felt his heart race. Even in that fleeting exchange, Yi Hwan's eyes conveyed an indescribable sensation.
'That one... is dangerous!'
* * *
"Great Prince, the Third Prince's carriage is ahead."
"Ignore it and proceed."
"Yes."
Clatter-clatter!
Yi Hwan recalled Yi Seong-ji from their last meeting. His eyes had been colder and more chilling than ice, unlike their first encounter.
'It wasn't resentment toward me—it was resentment toward the world.'
He could roughly guess the reason.
The two assassination attempts must have forged it.
Snap!
Yi Hwan opened the carriage window.
Moments later, he spotted an elderly man in the passing carriage. A face he remembered seeing in the capital before.
'An old retainer riding his master's carriage... Certainly no ordinary elder.'
Yi Hwan called out lowly.
"Stop for a moment."
Neigh!
The carriage halted.
Yi Hwan looked at Go Mi.
"Shall we talk?"
"Now?"
"Leave the carriage to that fellow and come in."
"...Yes."
Go Mi entered the carriage, and it resumed.
"We need to dig properly into the old man the Third Prince calls his master."
"It's just that, Third Prince's people are hard to investigate. We've been looking into that one for a while, but we've found almost nothing."
"Find a way somehow."
"...Yes, understood."
As Yi Hwan crossed his arms and closed his eyes, Go Mi felt slightly flustered.
"No more to say?"
"Just relax and go."
"......"