Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Yang Chan Reappears
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Yi Hwan, who had visited the Crown Prince's Palace, shared a long conversation with Yi So before heading straight to his office.
As he crossed the main gate of the headquarters, a warrior from the Sword King lineage approached him right away.
"Someone told this one to deliver this to the Great Prince."
Yi Hwan unfolded the note the warrior handed over.
"By midnight tonight, north of the imperial capital... [postscript omitted]."
It was the contact from Yang Chan he had been waiting for so long. The handwriting was unmistakably his.
Yi Hwan asked the warrior,
"Who brought this and left?"
"We caught the one trying to pin this to the main gate."
"Take me there."
Yi Hwan followed the warrior while calming his excitement. He had been worrying that with no contact for so long, Yang Chan might have left.
Moments later, Yi Hwan entered the Golden Army's prison.
"That's him."
Yi Hwan stared through the bars at a yellow-robed man huddled in one corner of the prison.
"Open the door."
"Yes."
Clang!
As the door opened, the yellow-robed man lifted his head. Recognizing Yi Hwan, he sprang to his feet.
Yi Hwan asked indifferently,
"What’s your connection to the one who delivered this?"
"......"
"If you don't talk, you might face torture worse than death."
"It was... I happened to get captured by some guy on the road, and he told me to deliver this to Golden Army headquarters."
"How did you get into the palace?"
"......"
"Shall I handle him?"
Yi Hwan held back Ju Tae, who was stepping forward, and stared down the yellow-robed man.
At that moment, the yellow-robed man suddenly prostrated himself flat on the floor and held out something with both hands. It was a bronze plaque.
"So you were with the Red Moon."
"My colleague and I were just low-rankers handling errands! We've never done anything to harm the Great Prince, so please spare us!"
"How many more colleagues do you have?"
"All my colleagues are the ones captured by that man! I don't know about anyone else! After hearing the Grand Overseer was dead and most high-ranking assassins killed, we planned to leave the capital!"
Yi Hwan handed the bronze plaque to Cheol Mu-ok.
"Lock him up here for now. Feed him on time."
"Understood."
Leaving the prison, Yi Hwan headed straight to his office.
Cheol Mu-ok followed at his side and asked,
"Did that guy ask to meet again?"
"Yes."
"This time, we'll go with you."
"He said alone, so stay out of it. No tailing either."
"......"
Moments later, Yi Hwan veered from his office toward Jo Gwang's residence. Jo Gwang's quarters were in the deepest part of the headquarters.
Pa Pa greeted him.
"Please come in, Great Prince."
"Were you brewing tea?"
"Yes, Great Prince."
"Pour me a cup too?"
"Yes. Please go inside, and I'll bring it right away."
Yi Hwan entered. Jo Gwang set down his book and rose.
"Please come in."
"What book?"
"A medical text. Nothing special."
"Thinking of learning medicine?"
"With nothing to do, I thought I'd try something, but most of it's beyond me..."
Yi Hwan sat opposite Jo Gwang. Just then, Pa Pa brought in the tea.
It was Dragon Well tea from the Song family.
Pa Pa set down the tea and asked cautiously,
"How is Lady Hwa faring?"
"Why not go see her yourself? She must be bored stuck in her room."
Pa Pa asked Jo Gwang,
"May I step out briefly?"
"Go ahead."
"Yes. Then."
As Pa Pa left, Jo Gwang smiled faintly.
"Seems one of the Emei Sect disciples reminded her of Lady Hwa. That's why she feels especially attached."
Everyone knew Pa Pa held Hwa Ryeong dear.
Yi Hwan silently sipped his tea.
Clink.
Jo Gwang asked,
"Any word on the Southwest King?"
"No unusual moves since the earthquake. They even asked Qin Kingdom to delay tribute recently... Seems the earthquake has soured Zhao Kingdom's public sentiment badly."
Yi Hwan took another sip, stared straight at Jo Gwang, and asked,
"Could the Southwest King access Zhao Kingdom's Imperial Palace Treasury?"
"Only throne-sitters can enter. Not possible now. Yeon Kingdom who knows, but our laws bar entry even with keys. Why ask suddenly?"
"I suspect the Blood Demon's relic might be there..."
"You think he failed to get it?"
"Speculation, but if he had, Zhao's palace would be his already. Maybe not, though—just a hunch."
"If he hasn't..."
Jo Gwang trailed off.
Yi Hwan eyed him a moment, then asked offhand,
"No way at all to enter without the throne?"
"Built into sheer cliffs. Even gods couldn't force entry."
That sealed it as impossible.
Yi Hwan drained his cup and stood.
"I'll leave the palace soon. Let's get some air then."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan left Jo Gwang's residence at once.
'Secret record says the Blood Demon's relic vanished with his death, unseen for two centuries after. If Southwest King lacks it, high odds it's in Zhao's Imperial Palace Treasury—like my sword.'
Yi Hwan had reread the secret record multiple times since exiting the Imperial Palace Treasury. It mentioned the Blood Demon dying in Zhao Kingdom's palace.
'Joint assault by Zhao and Qin...'
And crucially:
Daye Fortress fell to Zhao and Qin's joint attack. After his death, they rallied black path and demonic experts against it, ending in a month-long siege.
The anguish was captured vividly, like an eyewitness account.
'Poison King first to fall...'
Yi Hwan couldn't fathom the Poison King's death most.
He perished days into the battle. The record speculated an insider, not foe.
No name given.
'If he'd lived...'
What if Poison King hadn't died so pointlessly?
Regret and questions had plagued Yi Hwan for days.
'If he's Poison King's descendant, he might know.'
He'd ask Yang Chan that first tomorrow.
"Great Prince!"
Deputy General Yoo Woo-seong ran up.
"Visitor from Palace of Illusory Flowers."
* * *
Goat-faced. No imperial minister—he was Palace of Illusory Flowers.
Yi Hwan sat high, looking down.
"What does Palace of Illusory Flowers want with me?"
"Tomorrow's assembly is Her Majesty the Empress presiding personally. Military heads including Commandery attend, so I convey you must too, Great Prince."
Military chiefs at court? Rare.
"Tomorrow's agenda military reorganization?"
"I just relay Her Majesty the Empress's will, Great Prince. Know nothing else. Then."
"Hold."
"More?"
Yi Hwan glanced at Ju Tae beside him, hand out. Ju Tae pulled something from his bosom and passed it.
Yi Hwan tossed it to the middle-aged man.
Clink.
Circular iron plaque.
The man's eyes flickered, then steadied. He met Yi Hwan's gaze calmly.
"What is this?"
"One who targeted Moon Pavilion's Moon Lord carried it. Never seen?"
"First time."
"Is that so?"
Yi Hwan flicked his hand lightly; the plaque flew back to him.
"You know. Go."
"Yes. Then."
"I'll inspect Palace of Illusory Flowers soon. Expect notice a day prior—all present, no exceptions. One missing, and I'll suspect."
"We'll await."
* * *
Next morning.
Yi Hwan rose earlier than usual. Assembly half-shichen early.
Breakfast and tea as always, then alone to throne hall. Passing officials bowed en route; Yi Hwan nodded eyes-only, entered.
Yi Hwan hit Crown Prince's Palace first before throne hall. Why he woke early.
"Please come in, Great Prince."
"Come."
"Know why Empress presides today?"
"No word yet, but all military heads attending screams reorganization. Moon Lord better?"
"Internal wounds mild—rest few days, she'll recover."
"Good. Losing Moon Lord equals blinding one eye."
"She's more."
"True, likely. Red Moon—Second Prince's eyes, ears—near-wiped. They won't sit idle. Extra caution."
"I'm ready."
"Right! Let's go?"
Moments later, Yi Hwan and Yi So entered throne hall. All but Empress seated.
Yi So's entry: officials rose, bowed. Yi So took seat before Empress; Yi Hwan backmost, deliberate.
Moments later, Empress entered.
Yi Hwan stared as she sat. She glanced; gazes locked.
Empress looked away first.
Yi Hwan crossed arms leisurely, leaned on throne hall wall. Only Empress, Yi So sat in chairs.
Formalities done, Empress dropped a bombshell.
"Zhao Kingdom requests peace treaty. I called assembly for opinions—rank irrelevant, speak."
Murmurs erupted.
'Peace treaty?'
Expecting reorganization, Yi Hwan startled inwardly. Yi So looked shocked too.
Minister of War first:
"This minister approves. War damages unrestored—worry mounted. Peace with Zhao frees frontline troops for rebuild, saves vast funds!"
"This minister approves!"
Empress and Yi Tae-ji officials piled on, eager.
Yi Hwan watched silent. Long pause, Empress called him.
"Why silent?"
All eyes on Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan uncrossed, straightened.
"First, why grasp hand from cornered foe?"
"Who's cornered?"
"Southwest King, obviously."
"Why cornered?"
"You ministers and Majesty know best."
"No games—approve or oppose?"
Yi Hwan recrossed, leaned, raised right hand slightly.
"Golden Army opposes Zhao peace treaty."