Chapter 391
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 391
Chapter Title: Ma Jung-hyo's True Intentions
Ma Jung-hyo stepped out of Jang Cheon-hwa's residence.
A green-robed man appeared behind him. He exuded an aura of darkness so profound it made one question if he was truly alive.
"Go and kill Jo Gwang-mu."
"Why him? Isn't our enemy the Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince Yi Hwan?"
"It's not certain he's the true heir of the Lord of Daye Fortress. Even if he is the direct successor, Jo Yun's side holds more power right now. We need to balance the scales, don't we?"
"I'll take them both out."
"Foolish..."
"......"
Ma Jung-hyo continued.
"Neither is an easy mark. They're foes that demand our full effort, one at a time, no matter how long it takes. No more backtalk."
"......Understood."
"Set out immediately. Take the Young Cult Leader with you."
"The Young Cult Leader?"
In front of Jang Cheon-hwa, Ma Jung-hyo had called him Little Master.
"The Cult Leader wants to raise him strong. We might as well pretend to go along."
"Yes, understood."
Whoosh.
The green-robed man vanished like a ghost.
Ma Jung-hyo gazed out over the vast mountain ranges and subtly furrowed his brow.
"If only the war had dragged on another month..."
A short while later, Young Cult Leader Gu Ja-cheon emerged below the pavilion. A radiant smile lit his face as he looked up at Ma Jung-hyo.
He seemed thrilled at the prospect of heading into action.
"Wait for me! I'll make sure to return in triumph, Strategist!"
"Take care of yourself, Little Master."
Ma Jung-hyo bowed his head quietly.
By the time he looked up, Gu Ja-cheon and the green-robed men were gone.
Wrinkles creased Ma Jung-hyo's brow once more.
"No matter what, he can't hold a candle to that man. Dying on this mission might actually be the greater help."
* * *
The Emperor's assassination attempt.
The mood in the Qin Kingdom after handing over the strategic point to Zhao was one of utter gloom.
Having left the Shadow Guards to Won Ga-se and Wi Ji-gwan, Crown Prince Yang Mu returned to the capital and spent days holed up in the Crown Prince's Palace, drowning in drink.
Second Prince Yang I-cheon kept him company.
Thud!
"No matter how I look at it, something's off. Zhao had already pulled back once after Yeon's meddling foiled them—why suddenly mobilize again like this...?"
This time, unlike before, they hadn't yielded the point back but seized it outright, so the outcome differed. Still, this couldn't have been Zhao's intent.
Unless they were ruling out Yeon's reintervention entirely, Zhao's moves were downright bizarre.
"Your younger brother finds that suspicious too. And according to reports, Zhao—facing off against North Yeon—not only didn't push to reclaim it but actually withdrew their forces. Given Zhao's past actions, isn't that too strange?"
Glug glug!
Thud!
Doubt filled Yang Mu's eyes.
Yang I-cheon pressed on.
"I've sent word to our agents in Zhao to dig into it. Just wait a bit."
"If anything turns up, report to me at once."
"Of course, brother."
Yang Mu drained cup after cup. Each time, Yang I-cheon refilled the empty ones.
"We need to replace the Grand General."
"Yes?"
Yang I-cheon gaped in shock.
"Like last time, Grand General Won showed no competence. The warriors' trust in him has hit rock bottom. Backing him to the end in this mess could put me in a bind."
"It's true more warriors follow General Wi Ji-gwan than Grand General Won, but he's not one we can easily control, is he?"
"That's now. Once I take the throne, it'll all sort itself out. Until then, quelling the chaos is best."
"Understood. But what of Grand General Won? For old times' sake, shouldn't we give him some post?"
"We'll figure that out later."
It was then.
"Crown Prince, it's me."
"Come in."
A young general entered through the door. His extraordinary presence and towering build brightened Yang Mu's expression slightly.
"Sit."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I'll ask you, brother."
"Speak, brother."
"I'm thinking of appointing this man as head of the Golden Army, succeeding General Wi Ji-gwan. Curious about your thoughts."
"......!"
Yang I-cheon widened his eyes. Shock, disappointment, and anger swirled in his dilated pupils. The head of the Golden Army was the position he coveted most.
"Why no answer?"
"......If that's your will, brother, so be it. Your brother follows your lead."
Was it an illusion? Yang I-cheon's voice trembled ever so faintly.
Yang Mu fixed his gaze on the general.
"Can you handle it?"
"I live and die for Your Highness alone!"
"No precedent in history for such a bold appointment. Expect backlash. Face it with resolve. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The general's name was Neung Bi—the Crown Prince Consort's sole brother and hailed as the Qin Kingdom's top prodigy.
* * *
"Damn it all!"
Bang bang bang!
The residence door shattered under furious blows.
Still seething, Yang I-cheon grabbed a bottle from the table and chugged it straight.
Gulp gulp!
Crash!
"Bypassing me, his own blood, for some greenhorn brother-in-law in a key post! What kind of insane decision is this?!"
Bang bang bang!
Too agitated to channel qi, perhaps? His skin tore, blood streaming down.
A watching retainer rushed forward.
"Fear it reaching the Crown Prince's ears. Please, calm yourself, Your Highness."
"Let it reach him!"
Yang I-cheon's face, red as boiled pork, refused to cool.
"Has there been something brewing between that Neung Bi punk and the Crown Prince's Palace all along?"
"We never saw it coming. But the moment His Highness returned to the palace, he spent a night at Silver Flower Palace, didn't he? Likely decided then."
Silver Flower Palace was the Crown Prince Consort's residence. Since the Emperor fell ill, it saw the most traffic in the Imperial Palace.
Crunch!
"Damn it all!"
Yang I-cheon clutched his face with both hands. At least in this moment, the one he hated most in the world was Yang Mu.
"Already swayed by his in-laws. The kingdom's in fine hands. Damn it all!"
* * *
Yi Hwan, back in the capital, sought out Yi So at once.
As always, Yi So greeted him with a broad smile. Having just finished state affairs, the two sat and shared drinks.
"If things go as you say, the national treasury will be overflowing."
"One request."
"Name it."
"We should grant ranks to those two. Crossing borders means countless checkpoints—without ranks, it'll delay them endlessly."
He meant Yellow Dragon Merchant Group Leader Yeom Yu-gwang and Wang Ji-kyeong.
Yi So nodded.
"Hm. Makes sense. Consider it done. Anything else?"
"I'll let you know if something comes up."
They chatted idly over drinks. Toward the end, Yi So broached casually.
"You should start a family soon."
"Not thinking about it yet."
Yi Hwan said it firmly on purpose. Guessing his mind, Yi So backed off.
"If a lady catches your eye, tell me then. I'll give you the grandest wedding in the land."
"Understood."
The drinking wrapped up late into the night.
Yi Hwan headed straight for the command post outside the palace. Cha Ryong and Ban Go, waiting beyond the gates, drove the carriage.
Ban Go, sulky for a while after being left behind on the Qin trip, was all smiles now that Yi Hwan had brought only them to the palace.
[Manage your face a bit?]
[What about it?]
It was then.
"Take us to my lady's house."
"Not the command post?"
"People to meet there. Head that way."
"Got it."
* * *
Late that night, Yeom Yu-gwang and Wang Ji-kyeong entered the Song family estate. Eager to see Yi Hwan after so long, they buzzed with excitement.
Soon, they faced him.
Warm words flowed, warming the mood.
"Forgotten all past grudges?"
"Yes. Thanks to Your Greatness's grace, business with Lord Wang booms by the day."
"Leader Yeom's talents handle it all—I'm just along for the ride, eating well."
Wang Ji-kyeong laughed heartily.
They'd long buried old scores. For Yeom Yu-gwang, who survived by a hair after siding with the Empress, Wang Ji-kyeong—under Yi Hwan's protection—was a savior.
"Words for you two."
"What is it?"
Yi Hwan emptied his cup and continued.
"We sell the diamond to fill the treasury. Your roles are crucial."
Yeom Yu-gwang's eyes widened.
"How much diamond do you have?"
"Developing a mine now—reports say a huge deposit. So..."
Yi Hwan briefly explained Song Ja's mine. At the end, Yeom Yu-gwang and Wang Ji-kyeong gaped in astonishment.
"Can it be done?"
Yeom Yu-gwang replied.
"Raw stones alone fetch a fortune. Processed? Multiples more. But few in the world can work diamond..."
"No worries there."
"Someone who can?"
"A top-notch fellow. Processing goes to him."
"Then leave sales to us. Target the West, even tycoons across the sea in Dong-yeong—profits will be immense."
"I'll help with all I have."
Unmatched merchants, they brimmed with confidence. Yeom Yu-gwang especially burned with resolve.
Yi Hwan eyed them and went on.
"So, granting you official ranks. With them, border passes smooth out, time slashed."
"......Ranks?"
"Really?"
Their eyes bulged again.
Yi Hwan nodded with a smile.
"His Majesty approved."
"Bestowing ranks on lowly merchants—your grace is beyond repayment, Great Prince!"
"Thanks, Great Prince!"
Yeom Yu-gwang and Wang Ji-kyeong trembled with emotion. Wang Ji-kyeong's eyes even reddened.
"For the kingdom, not a speck of corruption. Approach with the resolve that your efforts shape the people's lives."
* * *
Same time.
Ju Tae and others ate a late dinner in the pavilion at one corner of the courtyard.
Yi Yeong had laid out a feast rivaling a royal banquet, with the finest liquor.
Kim Mu-gwan drained his cup and said.
"Never seen Her Highness so delighted, save when seeing the Great Prince."
"Naturally. To Her Highness, our lord is more than life itself. Without him, she'd still be trapped in the past."
Ju Tae spoke with rare gravity.
Cha Ryong asked Ju Tae.
"Those two call him Great Prince—why do you say 'my lord'?"
"Circumstances."
Ban Go cut in.
"What circumstances?"
Ju Tae smirked at them.
"You call Jo Yun 'my lord' too, right?"
"Yes."
"Yep."
"Same idea. You'll learn in time. Drink up—this liquor's priceless."
It was then.
"You're all here?"
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong approached. Hwa Ryeong leaped straight onto the pavilion and snatched a bottle.
Go Mi asked.
"The Great Prince in the inner quarters?"
"Yeah. But something urgent?"
"No."
"Feels like it."
"It's not? I'll see him first—save some for me."
All watched Go Mi head to the inner quarters, heads tilted.