Chapter 192
Chapter 192
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Yi Seong-ji's Demand
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Your Highness, the Third Prince has come to see you."
"What?"
Yi Tae-ji, who had been lounging on the bed munching on fruit leisurely, bolted upright.
'This bastard shows up without any notice...'
"Shall I show him in?"
Yi Tae-ji was about to reply when Yi Seong-ji stepped in from behind the guard.
Yi Tae-ji's expression changed in an instant.
"I haven't invited you in yet."
"Does a younger brother need permission to pay respects to his elder brother?"
"Even between brothers, there are basic courtesies. You should at least observe that much, especially as an imperial prince meant to set an example for all."
"I have something to say, so sit down. You, leave us."
The guard glanced at Yi Tae-ji.
Yi Tae-ji, glaring at Yi Seong-ji with a look of utter exasperation, finally signaled for him to leave, and only then did the guard step out.
Yi Tae-ji sat in a chair, crossing his legs and popping a fruit into his mouth.
"Your face looks quite grim. Do you have some grievance against me?"
"Grievance? No, I just have something to tell you."
"Is that so? Then speak."
"Can you get me into the Imperial Palace Treasury?"
"What?"
"There's something I absolutely need inside there. So, please put in a good word with Her Majesty the Empress for me. If you do, I'll definitely repay the favor."
Yi Tae-ji's expression shifted.
"That's a place even I haven't entered. You're saying you want to go there? No, set that aside for now—what is it you need? Tell me that first."
"I can't tell you that."
Heh.
A smirk tugged at Yi Tae-ji's lips.
"Neither you nor I, nor even Her Majesty the Empress knows what's inside there. How can you be so sure that what you need is in there?"
"When I was young, I overheard His Majesty mention it."
Yi Seong-ji picked up the teacup Yi Tae-ji had been drinking from and brought it to his lips.
'He hasn't shown his face for a while, but his whole demeanor has turned utterly vile.'
The action Yi Seong-ji had just taken was something the old him could never have imagined. Yi Seong-ji, who was almost obsessively clean and would never touch anything others had used.
From Yi Tae-ji's perspective, it was a grave rudeness.
"Fine. Suppose I speak to Her Majesty the Empress and get you into the Imperial Palace Treasury. What can you offer me in return? Let's hear that first."
"I'll leave the capital."
"......!"
"Isn't that what you want? That's why you've opened my residence to commoners and even set up a military camp, isn't it?"
At those words, Yi Tae-ji leaned deep into his chair, folding his arms. Yi Seong-ji stared straight into his eyes.
Heh.
Another smirk played on Yi Tae-ji's lips.
"It sounds like you're saying you'll dig in your heels unless I grant your request. Is that it?"
"I've already decided to leave. But if my request is denied, I'm thinking of moving my residence into the palace. Somewhere close to the Crown Prince's Palace."
The implication was clear.
"Surely you know that even an imperial prince can't just enter the palace whenever he pleases?"
"I do. Naturally, you and Her Majesty the Empress would oppose me entering the palace. That's why I'll ask the Crown Prince. My eldest brother surely has the influence to make it happen, doesn't he?"
"......What?"
Yi Tae-ji's face turned pale.
He had just interpreted Yi Seong-ji's words as an intent to join forces with Yi So. If that were true, it was blatant blackmail.
"Your head must be addled."
"Yes. After surviving two near-death experiences, my thinking had to change. Brothers from the same mother might end up worse than half-brothers... or even strangers. Something like that."
"Are you suspecting me right now?"
"It's not suspicion. I am certain it was you who ordered it."
"......What?"
"If you want, I can present evidence."
Tremble...
Yi Tae-ji's eyes narrowed and shook faintly.
Yi Seong-ji stood up.
"Then I'll await your decision, brother. Ah! During the ancestral rites, I'll be staying in the palace, so I'd appreciate your answer by then."
Yi Seong-ji turned and left.
Yi Tae-ji shot to his feet and hurried to the window. He stared at Yi Seong-ji's retreating figure, his gaze hardening.
'Has that bastard really secured evidence?'
Unease began to sprout in Yi Tae-ji's chest.
* * *
Rumble!
Crack!
As night fell, a downpour began.
Yi Hwan had spread out the map of the Palace of Illusory Flowers and the surrounding forbidden zone that Hwa Ryeong had brought, examining it closely on his desk in the office. But the map alone offered no clear path forward.
"No helping it. I'll just have to charge in with my body."
Go Mi, sitting beside Hwa Ryeong and watching Yi Hwan, spoke up.
"No matter how I think about it, it's too dangerous. Wouldn't it be better to find another way?"
"There's no more time to ponder alternatives."
"But......"
"Don't worry. I'll definitely return alive."
Hwa Ryeong chimed in.
"When do you plan to go in?"
"The rites start tomorrow, so I'm thinking tomorrow night or the dawn after."
"I'll go with you."
"You?"
"I may not know the inside of the forbidden zone, but I know the surrounding terrain like the back of my hand. Wouldn't that help?"
Yi Hwan pondered briefly, then nodded.
"Very well. But only up to the entrance of the forbidden zone."
"Yes, got it. Ah! And since you're going in anyway, dawn would be better than night. That's when the defenses around the Palace of Illusory Flowers are at their slackest."
"You're certain?"
"Abso-lute-ly."
"Then we'll go at dawn. It's late—go rest."
"Won't you have a drink?"
Go Mi grabbed Hwa Ryeong's arm and stood.
"Sleep well."
"Sweet dreams."
After Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong left, Yi Hwan walked to the window and flung it open.
Pour!
The rain was coming down hard.
Yi Hwan gazed toward the direction from the Golden Army headquarters to the densely packed civilian areas.
'Since that day, the number of watchers around has increased dramatically. Could that be why they haven't made contact again?'
The note's sender still hadn't appeared. It might be due to those secretly surveilling the villages near the headquarters.
Boom! Crack!
Lightning spiderwebbed across the distant sky, briefly turning the world white.
In that flash, several shadows appeared on rooftops a short distance from the headquarters. They were part of the surveillance team.
The lightning faded, and the world plunged back into pitch-black darkness.
Pour!
* * *
'The numbers have increased even more.'
Yang Chan peered at the Golden Army headquarters from the shadows, his face troubled.
After the first rendezvous with Yi Hwan fell through, he had come here multiple times to arrange another meeting, but the pervasive hidden presences made approach impossible.
They were undoubtedly the men sent by Yi Tae-ji to hunt him down.
Of course, they didn't scare him. But if contact went wrong, it could expose that Yi Hwan was the one he was trying to reach.
He couldn't afford to put the man in a bind before even meeting him. So he had no choice but to wait for the perfect opportunity.
Boom! Crack!
Lightning flashed, illuminating everything white before darkness returned.
'No choice. I'll approach when the Great Prince moves again.'
As Yang Chan stared at the Golden Army headquarters a moment longer and turned to leave, a faint presence suddenly registered behind him.
Yang Chan quickly concealed himself. In doing so, he failed to fully step on a roof tile.
Tap!
It was a faint sound no ordinary person could hear, but to martial artists, it rang like thunder.
Sure enough.
Whoosh!
Two shadows leaped into the air.
'Damn......'
Yang Chan gave a wry smile. He extended his arms toward the shadows and launched himself into the darkness.
Boom!
An explosion erupted with flames.
"Urk!"
A stifled groan followed as the shadows crashed down where Yang Chan had stood. By then, Yang Chan had vanished into the night.
"Gah!"
One black-clad figure doubled over, vomiting blood. Another quickly supported him.
Moments later, more black-clad figures rushed in from all directions. Mun I-jong appeared shortly after.
Mun I-jong asked.
"Was it him?"
"Seems like it."
"Seems like it? Then you should have stalled him even at the cost of your life!"
"It was due to hidden weapons...... My apologies."
"Which way did he go!"
"That way......"
Mun I-jong stared in the direction his subordinate indicated. It was west, toward the mountainous terrain.
He quickly schooled his expression.
'As expected, he showed up at the initial sighting spot. That confirms there's something here......'
Though he had escaped, Mun I-jong felt a slight satisfaction that his prediction was correct. He had deployed the most men here because he was certain Yang Chan would return.
'What could it be? Why can't this guy, who's already been spotted once, bring himself to leave this place?'
It was then.
"Grand Overseer, the Golden Army is coming."
Mun I-jong looked where his subordinate pointed.
Dozens of Golden Army soldiers were rushing over. No doubt drawn by the explosion.
"Let those punks come."
Mun I-jong ignored them and kept watching the Golden Army headquarters. Suddenly, his eyes flashed, and he broke into a white-toothed grin.
'Why didn't I think of that?'
What had he realized?
The smile on Mun I-jong's lips lingered for a long while.
* * *
The next day, Mun I-jong visited Yi Tae-ji.
Yi Tae-ji, just about to leave for the rites, asked outright.
"What happened with the target?"
"We haven't caught him yet."
A sneer immediately curled Yi Tae-ji's lips.
"I was a fool for expecting anything. Tsk tsk tsk."
"I have urgent news."
"I'm busy, so make it quick."
"Last night, he appeared near the Golden Army headquarters—the site of the initial sighting."
Twitch.
"So he was right in front of you, and you let him slip away again?"
"He's no easy catch. Especially since Her Majesty the Empress wants him alive, which makes it even harder."
"Didn't you hear? If you can't take him alive, kill him and eliminate the threat."
"Next time he appears, we'll prioritize killing him."
"What is it you want to say?"
Yi Tae-ji growing impatient. Mun I-jong cut straight to the point.
"If we link him to the Fourth Imperial Prince, things could get very interesting."
"......!"
Yi Tae-ji's eyes changed in an instant.
It piqued his interest.
"You're saying this much, so it sounds like you've already planned it out......"
"I'll have a perfect plan ready by the end of the rites. But first, Your Highness, there's something you need to do."
"What?"
"At the gathering of the imperial clan, subtly steer the mood. Hint that the man we're chasing might be connected to the Fourth Imperial Prince. If it reaches his ears, the effect will be even greater."
"He's not attending this rite. A bastard like him has no business here."
"......!"
It was then. Yi Tae-ji's close aide approached.
"Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress will arrive soon. Please hurry."
"We'll discuss that after the rites are over. Of course, you better have a perfect strategy by then."
"Understood."
Yi Tae-ji strode out of his residence.
Mun I-jong watched his retreating back, subtly furrowing his brow.
'I needed to make him panic in front of the Empress and the imperial clan......'
He hadn't known Yi Hwan was skipping the rites. For Mun I-jong, things were going awry from the very first step.
"Hey."
"Yes, Grand Overseer."
"From today until the imperial rites end, double the watch on the Golden Army headquarters. If the Fourth Imperial Prince leaves, confirm his destination no matter what."
"Understood."