Chapter 213
Chapter 213
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: Fox Den Hunt (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Somewhere in the Palace of Illusory Flowers.
Two men in green robes suddenly appeared from what seemed like a dead end with no passage at all.
“You go and send word to Her Majesty the Empress first. I’ll seek aid from our allies in the court.”
“Understood.”
One green-robed man slipped off to the left. The remaining one pulled a messenger pigeon and a small bamboo tube from his bosom. Because Yi Hwan’s intrusion had blocked all internal passages, they had no choice but to come outside like this to send the pigeon.
The green-robed man hurriedly began tying the bamboo tube to the pigeon’s leg.
But then.
Pew!
A streak of energy shot from the left. The energy pierced not the green-robed man, but the pigeon’s body.
Thud!
“Gasp!”
The green-robed man leaped up with a cry of alarm, reaching for the sword at his waist. But the blade couldn’t escape its sheath.
Slash!
His severed head hit the ground.
The headless body stood there for a moment longer before a gust of wind knocked it backward.
Thump!
Two men in white robes appeared there like ghosts. They were martial artists from the Crown Prince’s Palace.
One of them held a dripping, bloody head—the one who had just headed left to seek aid from the ministers.
“Not a single one escapes to the outside.”
“No need to worry. The Golden Army has already surrounded the entire Palace of Illusory Flowers in multiple layers. Unless it’s a bird with wings, nothing’s getting out.”
“Never let your guard down. They say even a single master can hold off a hundred thousand troops. We must stay focused.”
“Understood.”
The white-robed men stared into the darkened Palace of Illusory Flowers. One spoke in admiration.
“Isn’t it amazing? We’ve perfectly isolated the Palace of Illusory Flowers without even breaking a sweat.”
“It’s all thanks to the Great Prince’s perfect preparations.”
“That’s what amazes me even more. Our mission is just to guard the perimeter, yet it feels like everything’s already over.”
“You’re right, now that you mention it.”
In truth, the Crown Prince’s Palace martial artists had followed Yi Hwan’s orders with half doubt. The operation to strike the Palace of Illusory Flowers—everything to the Empress—was too disarmingly simple to comprehend.
Thus, even as they followed his directives, they couldn’t shake their unease.
“I hope it succeeds like this…”
That was when two more white-robed men appeared from behind with footsteps.
“We caught those two.”
“None on our side?”
“Yes. We were scouting the surroundings.”
“The rear is covered by the Golden Army, so let’s spread out and prepare for any contingencies.”
“Yes.”
The white-robed men scattered in all directions. One climbed to the top of a massive tree.
“Impressive.”
A gasp escaped the white-robed man’s lips.
Beyond the darkness, he could see the Golden Army encircling the Palace of Illusory Flowers. To his eyes, they looked like a single massive fortress.
*I absolutely trust my younger brother. So you should trust him too. This is not an order—it’s a request.*
Yi So’s voice echoed in his mind.
The white-robed man suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
*‘What if the Great Prince harbors any disloyal thoughts…’*
* * *
Crown Prince’s Palace.
Yi So waited anxiously for word. He wanted to rush to the Palace of Illusory Flowers right away, but Yi Hwan’s words—that his movement would distract the warriors—held him back.
Go Mi, watching him, wore a face thick with tension.
*The Great Prince will surely succeed.*
She trusted Yi Hwan completely. But as time dragged on, the anxiety and impatience were unavoidable.
That was when a general entered.
“Your Highness, the imperial physician just headed to the Palace of Illusory Flowers.”
“The imperial physician?”
“Yes. We confirmed a female warrior under the Great Prince traveling with him, but when we asked what was happening, they gave no answer.”
Yi So and Go Mi’s faces hardened. Taking the physician meant someone was gravely injured.
Both thought of Yi Hwan at once. But both shook their heads.
“It’s maddening to just wait like this.”
“Trust the Great Prince and wait, Your Highness.”
“I do trust him. But how do I quell this unease? If only they’d said why they took the physician…”
“…”
Go Mi soothed the worried Yi So. He flung open the window, gulping cold air as he gazed toward the Palace of Illusory Flowers.
But beyond the darkness, it lay silent like a sleeping giant.
Whooo!
How much time passed like that?
Boom!
A dull thud echoed from outside. Kim Mu-gwan rushed in.
“Your Highness!”
“You should be at my brother’s side—why have you returned!”
In an instant, Yi So’s unease flared like wildfire. Kim Mu-gwan’s next words turned him to stone.
“We’ve brought His Majesty.”
“…!”
Yi So’s eyes widened.
Ju Tae entered, carrying the Emperor on his back. The imperial physician, said to have gone to the Palace of Illusory Flowers, followed behind.
“…His Majesty!”
* * *
Yi So’s eyes reddened as he gazed down at the deeply sleeping Emperor. Tears welled up, ready to fall with a single blink.
Ju Tae said,
“He said he couldn’t inform you in advance for fear of agitating Your Highness.”
“Is my brother safe?”
“Yes.”
“Now His Majesty is under my protection, so go and aid my brother at once. We must devote everything to ensuring not a hair on his head is harmed.”
“Understood.”
Ju Tae withdrew.
Tears finally trailed down Yi So’s cheeks. But he did not wipe them away.
“Never leave my side again, Father. My brother and I will protect you.”
Yi So bowed and clasped the Emperor’s hand. The cold touch, devoid of any warmth, brought fresh tears.
* * *
“My lord.”
Cheol Mu-ok returned.
Ju Tae and Kim Mu-gwan followed. Hwa Ryeong had arrived earlier.
“We’ve prepared the fierce fire oil as instructed.”
“Everyone out.”
“One question first.”
Cheol Mu-ok asked directly.
“You said there’s a fake Emperor inside, didn’t you? Shouldn’t we leave that fake as evidence for what comes next?”
“I agree. If we just burn everything and kill them all, convincing the Empress’s ministers and the neutral ones later could be quite difficult, no?”
Ju Tae chimed in.
But Yi Hwan remained unmoved.
“His Majesty alone is witness enough. And why convince anyone? I’ve no intention of forgiving those who sought to topple the Crown Prince for their own gain—neutral or not.”
“…!”
“Need more explanation?”
“…No.”
“As you leave, seal the forbidden zone passages. Not even an ant escapes—perfectly.”
“Understood.”
* * *
Yi Hwan emerged through a secret passage, and Deputy General Yu Woo-seong approached.
“As ordered, we’ve surrounded it so not even an ant can slip out. Of course, entry is under perfect control too.”
“Stay focused until it’s over.”
“Understood.”
Yu Woo-seong returned to his post, and a Crown Prince’s Palace warrior approached. It was the middle-aged man Yi Hwan had noticed first.
“We’ve eliminated all attempting outside contact. The Golden Imperial Guards are fully under control.”
“Well done.”
Yi Hwan gazed toward the palace clusters.
All the palaces blazed with light. But none could approach the Palace of Illusory Flowers, so the bridges beyond remained shrouded in darkness.
Whooo.
Yi Hwan checked the wind direction.
Fortunately, it blew toward the Palace of Illusory Flowers.
And since the Empress had deliberately isolated it from the other palaces, there was no worry of the flames spreading elsewhere once engulfed.
“Mu-ok, Ju Tae.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Begin.”
“What about those who flee the flames?”
“No prisoners needed.”
“Understood.”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae split left and right, relaying Yi Hwan’s orders to the Crown Prince’s Palace warriors holding the fierce fire oil.
Moments later, dozens of firebrands sliced through the darkness toward the Palace of Illusory Flowers.
Boom boom boom!
Dozens more fell, and soon the palace was engulfed in flames.
The fire, slow to spread at first, rode the wind and swelled into a massive inferno that forced even the encircling Golden Army to fall back.
Roar!
Kwaaa!
Flames reflected red on Yi Hwan’s face. Everyone stared at the blazing Palace of Illusory Flowers with rigid expressions, but his remained unchanged.
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
Screams erupted from everywhere.
The cries of Palace of Illusory Flowers warriors dying as they tried to flee.
* * *
Outside the Imperial Palace, at the Grand Marshal’s residence.
“What in the world is that?!”
Grand Marshal Yang Chun-hong gaped at the massive flames shooting up, illuminating the darkness.
His son Yang Ji-mong rushed over.
“It’s the north, where the Palace of Illusory Flowers is! A huge fire—shouldn’t you enter the palace at once?!”
“With the Empress away from the palace, of all times. Prepare the carriage—we’re going in!”
“Yes!”
Yang Ji-mong shouted around.
“Prepare the carriage at once!”
The midnight commotion lit lamps throughout the residence as warriors poured out.
Given his rank, he had hired a considerable number of private warriors with his own funds. Of course, because of the Reverse Heaven Society.
Soon, changed into official robes, Yang Chun-hong stepped out the gate with Yang Ji-mong. But he froze like stone.
Troops lined the front gate. A general stepped forward with a stern tone.
“You cannot enter the palace. Please return inside.”
“…!”
“You bastard!”
“Enough.”
Grip!
Yang Chun-hong yanked back his son Yang Ji-mong, who was about to bellow. Then, in a calm voice, he asked the general,
“By order of the Crown Prince’s Palace?”
“By the Great Prince’s command.”
“Then what are those flames?”
“I don’t know. I’m just ordered to ensure the Grand Marshal’s safety. Please go back inside.”
His words were polite, but the general’s demeanor screamed readiness to draw steel. Yang Chun-hong bit his lip. Yang Ji-mong, belatedly grasping the gravity, held back too.
Then the residence warriors surged out in a mass.
Cold fury flashed in the general’s eyes.
“The moment they draw swords, it’ll be treason. Restrain yourselves.”
Clang clang!
The troops behind assumed en masse drawing stances, and a twitch ran across Yang Chun-hong’s face.
A man who’d spent his life in the Imperial Palace knew exactly what this meant.
“All of you, withdraw.”
The warriors retreated beyond the gate.
Yang Chun-hong glanced once more at the growing flames, then told the general,
“I’ll obey the Great Prince’s command, so see to it there’s no misinterpretation leading to misfortune.”
“Understood.”
In the end, Grand Marshal Yang Chun-hong could not cross the gate.
At the same time, similar scenes unfolded at the residences of key officials and major ministers across the ministries.