Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: The Empress's Exile
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The meeting place between Yi Hwan and Yi So had changed from the Crown Prince's Palace to the imperial presence.
Everything had gone according to plan, yet Yi So's expression was far from bright. It was the immense pressure of the emperor's throne weighing on him.
Yi Hwan, on the other hand, rather liked this side of Yi So.
What if it had been Yi Tae-ji in his place?
He probably would have been thrilled at wielding power as vast as the heavens.
Clink.
Yi So set down his teacup and gazed steadily at Yi Hwan. Yi Hwan did not avert his eyes.
A faint smile formed at the corners of Yi So's mouth.
"Once I actually climbed to this position, my worries only grew. I can't help but wonder if I can lead this country as well as my imperial forebears."
"You will do more than well enough, Your Majesty."
"Little brother."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Thank you. Without you, this elder brother would still be confined to the Crown Prince's Palace, fretting endlessly. Thanks to you, we've been able to protect our Yi imperial dynasty."
Yi Hwan calmly lifted his teacup.
Clink.
"If there's anything you desire from me, speak it. I'll grant whatever I can."
"I'll think on it and let you know."
A smile spread across Yi So's face.
"I never knew having you as my brother could bring such joy. None of this would have been possible without you. From here on, if you see any shortcomings in this brother of yours, lend me your aid. Understood?"
"I believe you won't need my help."
At that moment, Gwan Ji-baek entered.
"Everyone has gathered."
"Shall we meet them together?"
"No. If I join, it'll surely spark rumors, so I'll take my leave."
"Then let's share a drink soon."
"Yes."
Yi Hwan stepped straight outside. Passing through two doors, he emerged to find the ministers assembled. All bowed their heads toward him.
They were the men who would form the new administration under Yi So.
"I trust you will serve His Majesty well."
"Yes, Great Prince!"
Yi Hwan headed straight out.
Waiting outside were Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, and Kim Mu-gwan, who approached him.
"Shall we head directly to headquarters?"
"Shall we take a stroll instead?"
"Where to?"
"Anywhere secluded from people."
"Understood."
Moments later, Yi Hwan boarded a carriage. The carriage bearing him headed toward the outskirts of the capital.
As it passed through the capital, passing warriors bowed their heads toward the carriage.
Yi Hwan's carriage had now become a symbol of power as formidable as the imperial procession of Emperor Yi So. The respect directed at him was immense.
It was conventional wisdom that a change in the throne's occupant brought a bloody purge.
Yet Yi So had not followed that path. He had pardoned most of the ministers aligned with the Empress. He simply denied them further office.
The Empress's faction, expecting a brutal purge, bowed deeply in gratitude for Yi So's mercy and relinquished their posts without regret.
This had been possible thanks to the information Yi Hwan held on their corruption. Depending on the severity, they could have vanished as morning dew on the execution ground. Thus, the pardoned ministers left the Imperial Palace with relief at having saved their lives.
In this way, Yi So's regime had been perfectly established without even the ruthless purge everyone had anticipated.
'Not bad at all.'
Looking back, it had been a relentless chain of crises. One slip could have meant defeat at the Empress's hands.
Yet after it all ended, what came was not the joy of victory, but an inexplicable emptiness.
Yi Hwan closed his eyes. He planned to rest for a while and take stock of what lay ahead.
Yi Hwan opened his eyes.
"To my sister's residence."
"Yes, my lord."
* * *
Upon arriving at Yi Yeong's home, Yi Hwan received a grand welcome. As Yeon Kingdom's de facto second-in-command, Yi Yeong and her husband Song Cheon-ho were moved to tears.
Visiting after a long time, Yi Hwan intended to set everything aside today and catch up freely. Yi Yeong had prepared an abundant feast for just that purpose.
As always, Yi Hwan took his drinks in the annex. Today, Cheol Mu-ok and the others joined him.
The mood was growing lively when Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong entered the annex. Lately, the two women had been nearly inseparable.
"Is it something important?"
"It's about the Third Prince."
"I see."
"The Third Prince was sighted at Mount Song's Lesser Room Peak. It seems he's planning to stay at the Shaolin Temple after all."
"Have you identified his companions?"
"Roughly two hundred, and as expected, all murim warriors."
"Don't dig too deep—just keep watch from afar. Report immediately if they make a move."
"Understood. And one more thing."
Go Mi caught her breath and continued.
"The Empress and her group, who left for neutral territory under the peace accord, have met with the Southwest King again."
"So they chose the Zhao Kingdom over Qin as their place of exile, just as I thought."
"It's not confirmed as exile yet."
"If it's not exile, there's no reason to meet the Southwest King again. They surely know the ascension ceremony is done, so their only option is to throw themselves on him. They've coordinated well in the past, after all."
"...I suppose so."
"Anything else?"
"No, nothing."
"Then sit. And today, no more headaches until the drinks run dry."
"Yes."
"Hey! That looks delicious!"
Hwa Ryeong plopped down right beside Yi Hwan. Yi Yeong stood.
"I'll bring more wine and dishes."
"Please pour generously, Your Highness!"
At Hwa Ryeong's cheeky request, Yi Yeong laughed and headed out. Song Cheon-ho followed to help.
Yi Hwan emptied the cup Cheol Mu-ok had filled.
Thud.
"We might end up busier than before. Rest up thoroughly for the next few days, everyone."
Hwa Ryeong's eyes sparkled as she asked,
"Any rewards in store, perhaps?"
"Enough. It wasn't done for recompense."
He said as much, but Yi Hwan did have one desire.
Freedom to roam unbound by any single place.
That was his sole wish.
Of course, he could abandon his current position and leave freely at any time, but he had no such intention just yet.
When the time came, he planned to ask Yi So to let him retain command of the Golden Army while granting him free movement.
Hwa Ryeong spoke around a mouthful of rice cake.
"Shouldn't we bolster the guards? The Empress isn't one to stay quiet."
"She won't be able to move right away. Even if the Southwest King accepts her exile, it'll take time just to gauge the situation."
"You know the Empress isn't a woman you approach with ordinary thinking, right?"
"I'll keep that in mind. Now, enough business—everyone, eat and drink your fill!"
"Yes!"
"Yes."
Everyone drank and ate heartily, venting their pent-up stories. Yi Hwan, too, wanted to forget everything and enjoy the moment today.
* * *
At the same time.
The Empress, who had swallowed her bitter tears and turned away, now sat face-to-face with Southwest King Jo Yun.
Just days ago, they had been equals, but now that was no longer the case. For the Empress, who had to plan for the future, she could no longer afford her former haughtiness.
She gave a brief account of events. Jo Yun feigned a stern expression as he listened.
Once she finished, the Empress cut straight to the point.
"Will you join hands with me?"
"If Your Majesty seeks exile here, how could I not welcome you with open arms? However, finding suitable lodgings will take some time. I cannot house such a noble guest just anywhere—I will seek out the finest place."
"Will you take in my son as well?"
"Of course."
Jo Yun readily accepted the Empress's exile. He had no reason to refuse.
Accepting her bolstered his forces, and he could even anticipate her followers defecting later.
And one more thing.
'A man would stake his life on a woman like this at least once. Over some green girl, this woman...'
The Empress appeared remarkably youthful for her age. Her figure was voluptuous and perfect enough to stir any man's heart.
With his prodigious stamina allowing him to spend hot nights with three concubines in one go, Jo Yun found the Empress more than alluring enough to ignite his lust.
"No more warriors joining you?"
"The ones with my second son are a small elite force—they'll be a great help."
"If Your Majesty says so, I look forward to it. Well then, shall we be off?"
"Very well."
Now that she thought of it, the Empress's speech, expression, and gestures had all changed markedly.
Rising from her seat, she gazed east. The bewitching glint in her eyes had turned to icy coldness.
'Soon, I'll take everything you have. Your lives as well.'
The exile of Yeon Kingdom's Empress.
It was an unprecedented event in the histories of Yeon and Zhao.
* * *
In the northern mountainous region of Yeon Kingdom.
A group pressed through treacherous peaks: Second Prince Yi Tae-ji and his followers.
Yi Tae-ji, leading the way, wore an unexpectedly impassive expression. Normally, he would have been twisted in rage.
Whoosh!
A fierce wind tore through the forest and over Yi Tae-ji's body.
Without bothering to smooth his disheveled hair, Yi Tae-ji kept walking south, step after step. Only as dusk fell did he perch on a rock and extend his hand.
"Some wine."
"Here, Your Highness."
The green-robed guards set up camp around them.
One of them ventured cautiously,
"The sun will set soon, so please spend the night here, Your Highness."
Yi Tae-ji stared at the sky.
For a fleeting moment, fury flashed in his strangely impassive eyes before vanishing.
"My situation is laughable. Dreaming of the throne, only to become a fugitive overnight."
"Your Highness is young and boundless in talent. Bide your time, and you will reclaim all. We subordinates pledge our lives to serve you—cast aside your worries."
Gulp, gulp!
Yi Tae-ji drained a bottle in one go.
Crash!
The bottle shattered to pieces.
"We lost fair and square."
"We never imagined the Crown Prince's Palace would strike at this moment."
"It wasn't the Crown Prince who moved."
"Then..."
Yi Tae-ji's eyes filled with chill.
"The fourth one got us. Me... and Mother too..."
Trailing off, Yi Tae-ji lay back on the rock. The icy fury in his eyes had returned to impassivity.
His green-robed guard wondered at this uncharacteristic demeanor.
'Is this perhaps his true face? Or is the shock too great...'
Somehow, it felt like the former.
At that moment, Yi Tae-ji asked,
"Mother must have crossed into Zhao by now?"
"The incident happened while she was meeting the Southwest King, so likely. Shall we head straight there?"
"Not necessarily—first, send someone to the capital for more details."
"Understood."
The bowing green-robed guard descended to the others.
Yi Tae-ji gazed at the darkening sky.
'To guard against this very thing, I've lived behind a false face all these years, and now look at the mess I'm in.'
A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
Flutter!
A bird burst from the nearby woods. At the same instant, Yi Tae-ji's hand clenched lightly at empty air.
Thud!
The rising bird plummeted, feathers scattering.
'And to fall without even unleashing this power...'
