Chapter 204
Chapter 204
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Yi Tae-ji's Change
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The Empress gazed at Yi Tae-ji's retreating figure through the window.
Her eyes, always filled with affection whenever she looked at him, now held deep doubt.
‘To think that child had such a side to him….’
Today's Yi Tae-ji seemed like an entirely different person.
His gaze, his tone, even his overall demeanor had changed.
‘Has he been deceiving me all this time?’
Yi Tae-ji had said he felt like he'd finally matured late in life.
But the Empress interpreted it differently. She couldn't shake the suspicion that he had been thoroughly hiding his true self until now.
‘If that's his real nature, then I no longer need to worry.’
The doubt soon turned to relief.
The Empress had always considered Yi Tae-ji lacking in talent. He had an impulsive personality, got excited easily and bored just as quickly, and his indulgence in women and wine had ruined his reputation.
She had planned to teach him the arts of kingship properly once he had built a solid foundation. She had even been searching for someone to serve as his Imperial Tutor.
‘No matter what anyone says, you must become the emperor of this land. For my revenge and that of my clan, I will make it happen no matter what.’
As the Empress bit her lip, pressing her teeth against it, the guard captain entered from behind.
The Empress asked without turning her gaze from Yi Tae-ji's figure.
“Is there still no word from Hwa Ryeong?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Have you checked with the Prime Minister's office?”
“Yes. They say she hasn't been seen for several days. It seems she's either turned traitor or she's dead.”
“The former is unlikely. So deploy more agents and find her at all costs.”
“How can you be so certain it's not the former?”
“Must I explain that to you as well?”
“…My apologies.”
“Leave me.”
The guard captain hurriedly exited.
Only after Yi Tae-ji vanished from sight did the Empress turn around. She then headed somewhere through a secret passage.
The corridor was quite long. Without the night-luminous pearls placed along the way, it would have been a deep, gloomy space where one couldn't see an inch ahead.
How much farther did she walk?
Pushing open an iron door, she entered a completely different environment. In the center of this artificially created space was a small pond, and rising from it was a stone platform about ten feet high.
The Empress ascended the platform without hesitation and sat cross-legged. Astonishingly, the pond's water turned blood-red, and mist began to rise.
The blood-red mist entered and exited her nose and mouth ceaselessly, covering the room like a living creature.
The Empress opened her eyes after about a quarter of an hour. As the fleeting crimson glow in her eyes returned to normal, a man entered.
He was a middle-aged man with an utterly ordinary presence. Bowing his head to the Empress, he spoke quietly.
“The energy of the magic stone is nearly depleted. Once it's exhausted, we'll have to abandon this place. Have you achieved all you desired?”
“My desires have no end.”
Descending lightly from the platform, the Empress stared straight at the middle-aged man and continued.
“That child wants you. What should I do?”
“We are not yet ready to emerge into the world. But if you command it, we will obey.”
“Is that sincere?”
“I have always served Your Majesty with utmost sincerity, and I shall continue to do so.”
The corner of the Empress's mouth twitched slightly—a habit that appeared when she was pleased.
“I will soon convey my will. Wait for it.”
“Understood.”
Leaving the bowing middle-aged man behind, the Empress exited. He remained there.
As the Empress headed back to her residence, she thought of Yi Hwan.
Lately, whenever things went awry, Yi So no longer came to mind first—it was Yi Hwan.
‘The fool who was less cunning than a fox has become a tiger.’
What followed was always self-recrimination.
If only she had recognized Yi Hwan's potential early on, she never would have let things reach this point.
It could be called a mistake or complacency.
Whatever the cause, Yi Hwan now stood as a formidable foe, equal to Yi So.
Perhaps even more troublesome. He commanded the hundred thousand Golden Army, which she had essentially raised herself.
If Yi Hwan so much as willed it, the Golden Army could strike at the capital—the heart of Yeon Kingdom—at any moment.
“Ha!”
Boom!
The Empress's foot smashed into the marble floor.
‘That lowly bastard dares….’
* * *
Yi Hwan scratched his ear.
Several ear picks were always kept ready in his office. Go Mi had personally carved them from bamboo for him, knowing his habit.
Sinking deep into his chair, Yi Hwan thought of Yi Tae-ji.
‘Something about his demeanor felt off.’
The Yi Tae-ji he met today felt distinctly different from before. Even upon seeing Mun I-jong's head, he hadn't shown the slightest surprise.
One might dismiss it lightly, but Yi Hwan had a bad feeling.
Clunk.
Cheol Mu-ok entered.
“The physician has arrived.”
“Examine the two of them first and tell them to request anything they need.”
“Understood.”
Go Mi's condition was more serious than expected.
She insisted she could endure, but it wasn't something to brush off.
Thus, Yi Hwan had requested a physician from Yi So. The internal injuries needed stabilizing before he could use the divine medicine from the Imperial Palace Treasury.
“My lord.”
This time, Ju Tae entered.
“Someone from the Crown Prince's Palace has arrived.”
“Bring them in.”
“Yes.”
Ju Tae returned from outside with one person. But the one who entered with him was the sturdy man from Haedong whom Yi Hwan had seen at the Crown Prince's Palace before.
“I greet the Great Prince.”
“It's been a while.”
Yi Hwan instructed Ju Tae to prepare tea and gestured for the sturdy man to sit.
The sturdy man sat across from him.
“Does His Highness have business with me?”
“He has ordered me to assist the Great Prince from today onward.”
“I see.”
Yi Hwan was pleased. He had liked the man from the first impression.
However, the lack of prior notice from the Crown Prince's Palace was somewhat puzzling.
“He said he would explain the reason later.”
“Nothing serious, I hope?”
“His Highness is aware of your clash with Hong Wol. He summoned me right after receiving General Kwan's report on it. It must be out of concern for you.”
‘The Crown Prince's Palace already knows? So East Depot did move.’
Yi Hwan felt a warmth in his chest. It was a moment to realize anew how much Yi So cherished him.
“You're from Haedong, right?”
“Yes.”
“I've heard the people there have valued loyalty above life since ancient times. I'll trust you once.”
Just then, Ju Tae entered with the tea. Cheol Mu-ok came in as well.
Yi Hwan said to them.
“This is the man who'll be with us from now on, so get along without fighting.”
Ju Tae asked bluntly.
“How old are you?”
Poke!
Cheol Mu-ok jabbed Ju Tae's side.
“Let's discuss the details among ourselves later. I'm Cheol Mu-ok.”
“I'm Kim Mu-gwan. Looking forward to working with you.”
Ju Tae spoke up again.
“Out of concern, let's not lie about our ages.”
Poke!
* * *
Right after the physician left, Go Mi visited Hwa Ryeong's room. Hwa Ryeong, who had just woken up, greeted her with a smile.
“How are you feeling?”
“Manageable. And you, Moon Lord?”
“It hurts like hell, but the physician said I'll be fine in about ten days, so I just have to endure. But really, are you okay?”
“Yes, truly.”
Having survived a desperate crisis together, the bond between the two women had grown even stronger.
“Shall we get some fresh air?”
“Sure.”
The two women stepped outside. Neither was in great shape, but a light walk was fine, so they headed to the headquarters courtyard.
“How are we going to manage intelligence gathering for a while?”
“We'll just have to work twice as hard once we're recovered.”
The two strolled slowly along the edge of the courtyard, chatting about this and that.
Hwa Ryeong glanced toward Yi Hwan's office and subtly furrowed her brow.
“It was the Empress's orders, right?”
“Mun I-jong might have acted on his own. Either way, Hong Wol was nearly wiped out, so they've taken a heavy blow.”
“That old hag won't stay quiet….”
Mid-sentence, Hwa Ryeong clutched her abdomen and bent at the waist. Go Mi quickly supported her.
“This won't do. Let's go back inside.”
“Let's sit for a bit longer before heading in.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
It was then. Yi Hwan stepped outside. Spotting the two women, he approached promptly.
“The physician said you're okay?”
“Yes. Light walking is fine, he said.”
Yi Hwan stared at Hwa Ryeong. Despite her pale face and cold sweat, she smiled brightly.
“I'm fine too, so don't worry too much.”
“Don't overdo it.”
“Yes, I won't.”
Go Mi asked.
“Where are you headed?”
“To the Crown Prince's Palace. Something to discuss.”
Moments later, Yi Hwan left the headquarters.
Go Mi watched Yi Hwan's retreating figure as he passed through the gate, subtly furrowing her brow.
‘There was no need to throw Mun I-jong's head at Yi Tae-ji….’
She had heard from Ju Tae that Yi Hwan had presented it in a box to Yi Tae-ji.
Go Mi's concern was how the stimulated Empress and Yi Tae-ji might react. And Yi Hwan surely wasn't unaware of that.
‘Is he aiming for a frontal assault?’
If it wasn't an impulsive act born of anger, then it was backed by meticulous calculation. Until now, Yi Hwan had turned even spontaneous incidents to his advantage, yielding astonishing results that surprised everyone.
“Moon Lord!”
A Moon Pavilion warrior came running from not far ahead.
“Time for your medicine, both of you!”
“Got it.”
* * *
Yang Chan let out a wry smile.
He had left the capital briefly for some business and returned to find that Yi Hwan had moved his headquarters to the Imperial Palace.
It was awkward.
‘I can't very well enter the palace….’
Nor could he just wait indefinitely for Yi Hwan to emerge.
Yang Chan headed to the marketplace with a sense of futility. He needed to think about what to do next.
‘By the way, the watchers around here vanished completely. Were they there to capture me, or to monitor the Great Prince?’
The surveillance around this area had disappeared. Until now, they had prevented Yang Chan from easily approaching Yi Hwan.
Whoosh!
Yang Chan cleaved through the wind toward the marketplace. Two men in yellow robes passed by his side.
Yang Chan's eyes flashed for a moment because of one man's words.
“Who knows what'll happen now.”
“Exactly. We're like toothless hounds now. Even if we return to the palace, we know what treatment awaits….”
“Sigh….”
The yellow-robed men sighed.
They were among the few surviving Hong Wol warriors. Their lesser skills had kept them out of the operation, sparing their lives.
Yang Chan stopped and watched the two. After a brief thought, he began tailing them.