Chapter 268
Chapter 268
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: Meeting of the Princes
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Namgung Jang-cheon’s life was not in immediate danger. He simply looked gravely injured due to the heavy blood loss from his sword wound.
Yi Hwan stepped inside.
One of the Namgung Clan warriors blocked his path.
“Who are you?”
Yi Hwan slowly removed his human skin mask. Namgung Jang-cheon’s eyes widened.
“……Great Prince!”
“Long time no see.”
At the words “Great Prince,” the Namgung Clan warrior who had blocked Yi Hwan’s way hurriedly stepped aside.
“Just sit tight. You’re pretty banged up, though.”
“I’m fine.”
Pain twisted Namgung Jang-cheon’s features.
Yi Hwan could tell just from that expression. The Namgung Clan had suffered tremendous losses.
But he felt no guilt for not having helped. What they had to overcome was entirely their own burden.
Just then, Yang I-cheon entered from behind.
Namgung Jang-cheon hurriedly rose to his feet.
“I greet Your Highness.”
“I greet Your Highness!”
The Namgung Clan warriors bowed their heads in unison. Yi Hwan subtly stepped aside and stared at Yang I-cheon. Their gazes clashed across the space.
“I had no idea you were wearing a human skin mask.”
“I had my reasons.”
Yang I-cheon, who knew Yi Hwan’s identity, introduced himself first.
“I am Yang I-cheon.”
“I am Yi Hwan.”
“Let’s talk later.”
Not wanting to lose in this battle of wills, Yang I-cheon forced a stern expression as he regarded Namgung Jang-cheon.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. I’m fine, but my uncle…….”
“He’s dead?!”
“……Yes.”
Shock flooded Yang I-cheon’s face. He knew full well how formidable a master Namgung Jang-cheon’s uncle, Namgung Gi, had been.
Clap!
“Your grief is the imperial family’s grief. As a prince of the imperial house, I will never forgive those insolent fanatics.”
As Yang I-cheon placed a hand on Namgung Jang-cheon’s shoulder, Namgung Jang-cheon silently bowed his head.
Yang I-cheon finally turned to Yi Hwan.
“We can’t talk with an injured man here. How about we head to your tent?”
“Very well.”
Before leaving the tent, Yi Hwan glanced back at Namgung Jang-cheon. Namgung Jang-cheon kept his head bowed in anguish.
[Once you’re stable, come see me in my tent.]
Namgung Jang-cheon finally raised his head.
[I will.]
* * *
Yi Hwan and Yang I-cheon sat facing each other.
Yang I-cheon took a sip of tea and got straight to the point.
“Even if you did help us, barging into our territory—our military camp, no less—is something we can’t just overlook.”
“I entered your territory with the permission of the Qin Emperor. That includes scouting the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, so feel free to verify it if you don’t believe me.”
“I know His Majesty has exchanged letters with the Yeon Emperor, but I heard no prior notice before coming here.”
Yi Hwan calmly took a sip of his tea.
Clink.
He then met Yang I-cheon’s eyes directly.
“Lake Dongting cradles two moons.”
“……!”
“Though I wasn’t given any document or token guaranteeing free movement, His Majesty said no one in Qin would hinder me with this phrase.”
Lake Dongting cradles two moons.
This was a line from a poem the Qin Emperor had composed in his youth.
Once hailed as Qin’s finest prose, the emperor had enjoyed gifting framed copies to his palace ministers as well as local officials and generals.
Yang I-cheon, too, had memorized the famous poem by heart as a child.
Yi Hwan had received this information from Yi So before leaving the palace. Otherwise, even he wouldn’t have casually revealed his identity in a Qin military camp.
“Ahem.”
Yang I-cheon cleared his throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
“What brings you to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains? The fanatics, perhaps?”
“Exactly. I heard their main headquarters is here, so I wanted to see for myself. My goal is to find a way to wipe them out.”
Yang I-cheon inwardly resented his father, the emperor.
‘When we have more than enough strength on our own, why involve this man…….’
His displeasure showed plainly on his face. From that, Yi Hwan could roughly gauge Yang I-cheon’s caliber.
“But I have one request.”
“Speak.”
“First, who holds command here? This involves military secrets, so I need to know that much.”
Twitch.
“As a prince, I am naturally in charge here!”
“I heard a general named Yeom Po is the commander here.”
“Even in Yeon’s Northern and Southern Legions, commanders exist separately, yet you wielded full authority. It’s the same in Qin, so direct any requests to me.”
Yang I-cheon seemed on the verge of snapping, but he quickly regained his composure.
Yi Hwan spoke calmly.
“Would you share any intelligence on the Dark Heaven Cult? It could be quite helpful.”
“You want me to just hand over information our army bled for?”
“To repeat myself, I came here seeking a way to eradicate them. You should know that’s what the Qin Emperor desires most fervently.”
“…….”
When Yi Hwan mentioned the emperor, Yang I-cheon was at a loss for words.
If he refused on personal judgment and the emperor later took issue with it, things could get messy.
‘What to do?’
Lacking the emperor’s trust. That was Yang I-cheon’s fatal weakness.
Even as a prince, without the emperor’s favor, the slightest mistake could become a major issue.
It could even cost him what he already held. For Yang I-cheon, who harbored his own ambitions, that was absolutely unacceptable.
“Ahem! I’ll discuss this with the commander and give you an answer later.”
“Understood.”
Yang I-cheon took another sip of tea, then asked something off-topic.
“When the fanatics were suppressed in Yeon’s capital, I heard there were significant civilian casualties. Did the Yeon Emperor approve your suppression methods in advance?”
“Of course.”
“And you still think that approach was right?”
“If it happened again, I’d do the same.”
“The people would just stand by?”
“That’s for you to worry about.”
“Well, true, but no matter how I look at it, your methods seem wrong. If it were me, I’d never choose a way that harms civilians so much. No one in Qin’s imperial family would.”
“If the same happens in Qin, I’ll watch closely how you suppress it. And if you do so without harming the people, the whole world will praise the prince.”
Judging further talk pointless, Yi Hwan ended with a subtle jab.
Sure enough, Yang I-cheon’s eyes lit up brightest at that.
It was then that Yi Hwan brought up what intrigued him most.
“How is the Third Prince faring?”
“He’s behaving very quietly. We were even watching him in case he planned to slip over to Zhao, but he seems quite taken with our Qin.”
“Good to hear.”
Yi Hwan finished his tea and stood.
Still seated, Yang I-cheon said,
“I’ll tell the commander to prepare a better tent, so wait a bit.”
“Thank you.”
Yi Hwan left.
Yang I-cheon sank deep into his chair and let out a long breath.
“Whew…… How does one live to get eyes like that? Felt like conversing with a tiger.”
In truth, during their talk, he’d felt his breath catch repeatedly. That indifferent gaze carried an overwhelming pressure impossible to defy.
He’d only ever felt this from the emperor in his rare fits of rage.
‘They say he’s Yeon’s top power broker, and the rumors aren’t exaggerated.’
Just then, a Golden Imperial Guard general entered.
“What do you make of him?”
“What do I make of him? He exudes that brazen, overbearing aura just like the rumors. A prince of a nation shouldn’t carry himself like that. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
“What about the tent?”
“His Majesty approved his activities, so prepare a spacious, fine one. Otherwise, I’ll take the blame. Go tell the commander now.”
“Understood.”
“I’m tired and need rest, so don’t let anyone in unless it’s urgent.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
* * *
Yi Hwan stepped outside and headed for the tent where Go Mi and the others had stayed first.
Along the way, Qin generals he passed bowed to him.
The Golden Imperial Guard generals, however, stared blankly as he went by, offering no greetings. Their eyes brimmed with resentment.
They knew why the emperor had sent Yang I-cheon here. Thus, they felt dragged here themselves because of Yi Hwan.
For men who had seldom left the capital, life in this rugged camp was pure torment.
Yi Hwan ignored them and pressed on to the tent. A bit farther, Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong emerged.
As the women appeared, every Golden Imperial Guard’s gaze locked on instantly. Without their human skin masks, their beauty was exquisite even by Qin standards.
Clad in form-fitting martial robes, it was only natural the men’s eyes swarmed them.
“There’s no proper place to wash up, Great Prince.”
“Never mind. Just wash our hands.”
“Use the river later. And for meals, you’ll have to eat with the Qin generals until the tents are ready.”
“Fine.”
Hwa Ryeong stepped forward.
“Dinner will start soon, so hurry and wash your hands.”
“No interest.”
“But I’m hungry…….”
“Can’t eat without me?”
“How are we supposed to endure all those stares if we go alone? Come with us. Please?”
Go Mi’s transmission voice flowed in.
[We haven’t even had a single meal.]
“…….”
* * *
The generals’ mess hall was fairly large. Yi Hwan and his group deliberately took the most secluded corner.
Then, Commander Yeom Po, who had arrived earlier, approached.
“I apologize for the inconvenience. Once the tents are properly set, we’ll deliver meals separately.”
“Thank you, Commander.”
“Any discomforts?”
“I just arrived…….”
Hwa Ryeong asked,
“Could you prepare tents near the river? Close by?”
“It’s possible, but the camp outskirts are quite dangerous…….”
“It’s fine. Please.”
“Understood. We’ll set them up by the river. Is that all right with you, Great Prince?”
“Yes.”
“Very well, then.”
Yeom Po returned to his seat.
Yi Hwan quietly watched his retreating figure. He had the quintessential air of a warrior. Much like Hwang Ho, the former Southern Legion commander.
A wry smile tugged at his lips.
Perhaps when he himself had first gone to the Southern Legion, Hwang Ho had felt much like Yeom Po did now?
‘Maybe.’