Chapter 368
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 368
Chapter Title: Guan Ying's Smile
Yi Hwan and Guan Ying sat facing each other.
The others had all gone outside.
“I heard there was a minor incident involving the Third Prince. Whatever the details, it’s fortunate it didn’t escalate.”
“Our side’s leader withdrew first to avoid unnecessary conflict. However, this is no simple matter we can just overlook, Great Prince.”
“No simple matter...”
Clink.
Yi Hwan trailed off and lifted his teacup.
Guan Ying continued.
“His past status is irrelevant. He formally took office in our Qin Kingdom. As the head of an organization, no less. For such a man to desert during wartime—surely you understand our position just from that.”
*Impressive.*
Yi Hwan sensed something he hadn’t noticed at their first meeting.
*Of course, one of a kingdom’s three great ministers can’t be just anyone.*
Yi Hwan took another sip of tea.
Clink.
“If you lose Yi Seong-ji and hand over all the iron ore besides, the reason for the three ministers coming here vanishes entirely. Returning like that would put you in a tough spot, wouldn’t it?”
“Great Prince!”
“And there’s something else I happened to learn: your superiors deliberately ordered the mining slowed. Is that true?”
“...!”
Guan Ying’s eyes flickered for an instant. But Yi Hwan didn’t miss it.
“If it’s true, we won’t let it slide. There’s no precedent in history for breaking an inter-kingdom pact made in exchange for aid. That’s what you did. Got it?”
“I don’t know where you heard that, but it’s the first I’ve heard of any such order from above.”
“We’ll find out with an investigation.”
Clink.
“If it proves true, remember everything that follows is on Qin Kingdom. And since you seem to be misunderstanding something... North Yeon mobilized a hundred thousand, and our Yeon fifty thousand. Do you think deploying armies that size is easy? And what about the enmity this has created between North Yeon, Yeon, and Zhao?”
“...We are grateful.”
Guan Ying’s demeanor began to soften.
Yi Hwan pressed harder.
“But you slowed mining because you begrudged giving the promised iron, and offered only half. What do you think will happen if I report that to His Majesty as is?”
“We didn’t say half—we merely asked if the remaining half could be provided later, Great Prince!”
Clink.
“Enough. How about a deal with me?”
“What do you...”
“I’ll accept half the iron. In exchange, the incident with the Third Prince never happened. Only a few warriors were on site anyway; keep their mouths shut, and there’s no issue.”
“...!”
“Then you’ve personally secured the iron for fifteen thousand Do Geom swords. That saves face for you, doesn’t it?”
*Personally prevented the massive outflow of iron through my own efforts?*
Guan Ying was intrigued.
No—thoroughly convinced.
Better to return with one success than two failures. Especially when one failure isn’t even his fault?
He’d been deeply worried about facing Crown Prince Yang Mu empty-handed. Yi Hwan had shone a ray of hope.
“You mean you won’t take the other half?”
“That’s right.”
“Can you promise that?”
Twitch.
Yi Hwan’s gaze turned icy in an instant. Guan Ying felt his breath catch.
“Do I sound like I’m asking?”
“...”
“One must know when mercy is being shown, or it’s meaningless. Consider my terms accepted. I’ll take my leave.”
Yi Hwan drained the last of his tea and stood.
Guan Ying rose as well.
“Understood. We’ll follow the Great Prince’s will.”
“See that it doesn’t come up again.”
“Understood.”
* * *
*Is this what it feels like to be possessed by a ghost?*
Guan Ying felt strangely elated.
Just a brief conversation, yet two major issues resolved—in ways highly favorable to him.
Clink!
Guan Ying downed the cold tea in one gulp and called out softly toward the door.
“Come in.”
Baek Po-in entered.
“Sit there.”
“Yes.”
Guan Ying issued orders to Baek Po-in directly.
“We need to clean up the clinic where Yi Seong-ji stayed.”
“...Kill them all?”
“I’ll be cleared either way, but you and your men will end up in prison for the failure. After all our years together, how could I let that happen? When we arrived, Yi Seong-ji was already gone. Got it?”
“Understood.”
Baek Po-in’s face looked brighter leaving than when he entered.
Guan Ying sank deep into his chair, interlacing his fingers. He soon smiled faintly.
*Not bad.*
* * *
The next morning.
Yi Hwan mounted his warhorse.
Moments later, the carriage moved first, followed by the Yeon Kingdom army.
Guan Ying saw Yi Hwan off at the camp gate.
“Safe travels, Great Prince!”
A faint smile touched Yi Hwan’s lips.
Go Mi said,
“Half the iron is still a shame to lose.”
“We gained something bigger.”
“The Third Prince?”
Yi Hwan turned back instead of answering.
“Han Jo.”
“Yes, Great Prince!”
Han Jo rode up beside them.
“You confirmed it for sure?”
“Yes! We’ll put it into production immediately upon return!”
Go Mi glanced between them, puzzled.
Yi Hwan smiled calmly.
“This fellow figured out Qin Kingdom’s secret to producing high-quality iron.”
Go Mi’s eyes widened as she looked at Han Jo.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. There were a few shortcomings, but luckily we resolved them last night.”
“So we can make iron from Yeon Kingdom match this quality?”
“Yes! It’s entirely possible. Though we’d need perfect facilities...”
“Don’t worry about that. The Great Prince will handle it.”
Go Mi turned to Yi Hwan, her face flushed with excitement.
“This might be the greatest achievement of the campaign.”
“That’s how to see it. It’s why I could so readily give up half the iron.”
Yi Hwan thought of Guan Ying.
His send-off expression was markedly brighter than yesterday. He was clearly satisfied with Yi Hwan’s terms.
Here, Yi Hwan felt renewed conviction.
*Qin Kingdom is rotting from within. It may already be beyond saving.*
* * *
Yi Seong-ji, under the care of the Yeon army’s physician, looked more serene than ever.
Gong Ya-un, watching over him, felt the same.
In hindsight, it had been a dire moment. If Ju Tae and the others had arrived even slightly later, Yi Seong-ji—and he himself—would have been dragged to the Qin imperial palace.
Having escaped that peril, Gong Ya-un’s gaze on Yi Seong-ji held even deeper affection.
Then the physician straightened and stood after examining Yi Seong-ji.
“Those villains used completely wrong medicine. His internal injuries weren’t healing—they were worsening. We’ve changed the prescription, so with a few days’ rest, he’ll gradually recover.”
“He’ll truly be all right?”
“We caught it in time. No need to worry. That’s all.”
The physician left.
Yi Seong-ji lay on the bed, giving a hollow laugh.
“No wonder recovery was so strangely slow.”
“I’m sorry. I should have found a proper physician...”
“Don’t blame yourself. It would’ve been the same with anyone else.”
Yi Seong-ji got off the bed and stepped outside. The fever from his injuries made staying indoors unbearable.
He sat in a bamboo chair and drew a deep breath. Surveying his surroundings, he smiled faintly.
Just then, two passing generals saluted Yi Seong-ji.
Yi Hwan had ordered them to treat Yi Seong-ji as kin. Though reluctant due to his traitor status, they showed proper respect.
Whoosh!
A warm breeze blew, tousling Yi Seong-ji’s hair. As he raised a hand to brush it from his face,
A booming shout rang out from one side.
“The Great Prince returns!”
Bwooo!
Trumpets blared, and Yeon soldiers gathered.
Yi Seong-ji, supported by Gong Ya-un, stepped forward.
His elevated spot gave a clear view of Yi Hwan and the others approaching amid dust clouds far ahead.
“I must go greet him.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Normally, Gong Ya-un would have stopped him out of concern for his condition.
But not this time. Having received such aid, waiting inside would be improper.
*Now, Your Highness’s fate rests with the Great Prince.*
* * *
Yi Hwan saw Yi Seong-ji approaching the camp entrance, supported by Gong Ya-un.
Moments later, dismounting his red horse, Yi Hwan walked up to him.
“How are you feeling?”
“Thanks to you, quite serene.”
“Let’s go inside first. Escort His Highness!”
“Yes, Great Prince.”
Gong Ya-un bowed, emotion surging. It was Yi Hwan’s use of “Your Highness.” Without Yi Hwan there, he might have burst into tears.
“I’ll visit your tent shortly.”
“I’ll await you.”
Yi Hwan watched Yi Seong-ji’s retreating back with Gong Ya-un, then turned.
The generals bowed to him in unison.
Rustle!
“Where’s the physician?”
The physician hurried over moments later.
Yi Hwan asked immediately.
“How is His Highness?”
“Qin physicians used the wrong medicine, worsening his condition, but we caught it in time—he’s stabilized.”
“Deliberate?”
“An error no true physician would make. Definitely intentional.”
“Can he travel?”
“With a carriage, yes.”
“Good work.”
Yi Hwan looked to Ju Tae, Kim Mu-gwan, and others.
Reading his eyes, Ju Tae asked,
“Shall I handle it?”
“No traces.”
“Understood.”
Ju Tae, Kim Mu-gwan, and Park Ji-mun wheeled their horses and sped off like the wind.
Yi Hwan watched them briefly, then headed to Yi Seong-ji’s tent.