Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Plan Change
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Yi Hwan stood by the window, gazing at Yi Yeong.
The look in her eyes as she stared at Wang Ji-kyeong was far from ordinary. It was clear she had changed dramatically from the figure in his memories.
Yi Yeong stepped forward.
“The promised date is still far off. What brings you here to see me?”
Wang Ji-kyeong took a sip of tea before speaking.
“I came to propose a deal that would benefit us both.”
“Are we in a position to make deals?”
“Please forget the past and hear me out first. It won’t harm Your Highness in the slightest.”
“Very well. I’ll listen and judge for myself.”
Wang Ji-kyeong took another sip of tea.
Yi Hwan sensed he was about to say something difficult. It only piqued his curiosity more.
Wang Ji-kyeong spoke.
“Please connect me with His Highness the Crown Prince. In return, I’ll settle for just the principal.”
‘He’s desperate.’
As Yi Hwan chuckled inwardly, Yi Yeong’s thunderous shout echoed through the room.
“How insolent! How dare a mere merchant utter the Crown Prince’s name!”
“……!”
Yi Hwan was even more startled by Yi Yeong’s reaction.
Her shout, fierce as a thunderbolt, continued.
“If you value your life, get out!”
“Your Highness, please calm down and hear me to the end.”
“Silence! I won’t hear another word—now get out!”
Her eyes blazed with fury. Watching her, Yi Hwan chuckled to himself.
‘You don’t need to worry about your sister anymore, kid. Rest easy.’
The body’s original owner had thought of Yi Yeong until his final moments. Most of his memories were filled with worry and love for her.
Song Cheon-ho spoke up.
“We’ll pretend we didn’t hear the lord’s words. Leave now. And we’ll pay the overdue interest on the promised date, so never speak of the Crown Prince again.”
‘She married into a proper family after all.’
Yi Hwan stared at Wang Ji-kyeong.
Even from behind, his neck was flushed bright red.
That was when it happened.
Yi Yeong’s shout turned toward Yi Hwan.
“And you! What kind of attitude is that for a lowly warrior? Straighten up!”
“…….”
Yi Hwan looked down at himself and subtly corrected his posture. Until now, he had been standing with arms crossed and one leg casually bent.
“My apologies, Your Highness.”
Yi Hwan bowed his head.
* * *
Huff! Huff!
“Damn them—putting on airs just because they’re imperial blood!”
Wang Ji-kyeong snorted like a wild boar.
Yi Hwan said casually,
“You seem to be giving up too easily.”
“Didn’t you see it? The way they glared and shouted! What could I have done?”
“To fend off the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group’s tyranny, the only one we can rely on is the Crown Prince’s Palace, isn’t it? Then we must win them over, no matter what.”
“That’s why I offered to waive the interest! Don’t rile me up—enough!”
Wang Ji-kyeong’s face turned beet red, as if it might burst.
Yi Hwan had no intention of backing down.
“Why not go big and shoot for the stars?”
“What?”
“For someone as wealthy as the lord, the strongest weapon is money itself, no? Try waiving even the principal. I guarantee it’ll go your way.”
“Do you even know how much the principal is?”
“How much?”
“A whopping one hundred thousand silver taels! One hundred thousand! And you want me to give that up? What nonsense!”
It was a staggering sum.
That only made Yi Hwan more persistent.
Wang Ji-kyeong rakes in hundreds of thousands of taels a year from usury.
Recalling Go Mi’s voice, Yi Hwan said calmly,
“Stingy over a hundred thousand taels, only to take a bigger hit from the usury business? It’s your call, of course. I’m just advising as someone who wants his employer to succeed—no need to misunderstand.”
With that, Yi Hwan called out to the escorts.
“Escort the lord back to the mansion!”
* * *
That night.
Yi Hwan met Go Mi.
“Please deliver this to the Song family mansion.”
Go Mi took the smoke signal Yi Hwan offered and replied.
“Understood.”
“You’re not curious what it is?”
“Not at all. I simply follow the Great Prince’s orders.”
“…….”
“Any other instructions, Your Highness?”
“Tell them I’ll visit soon.”
“Understood. Then.”
“Wait!”
Yi Hwan called back Go Mi as she turned to leave.
“Stop by the Crown Prince’s Palace and deliver this too.”
“To the Crown Prince’s Palace?”
“It’s very important—make sure it gets there.”
“Understood. If His Highness asks the Great Prince’s whereabouts, what shall I say?”
“Everything’s written inside. Just deliver it.”
“Understood.”
Whoosh!
Go Mi vanished into the night as always.
“…….”
* * *
Late at night.
Wang Ji-kyeong sat facing his aide.
True to his reputation as a heavy drinker, empty bottles littered the table.
The aide spoke cautiously.
“We should reconsider that man’s words. If the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group backs into usury with powerful support, we’ll take a severe blow.”
Wang Ji-kyeong listened silently.
The aide continued.
“It pains me to say it, but it seems the best option now. We need ties to the Crown Prince’s Palace to stand against the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group, don’t we?”
Glug! Glug!
Thud!
Wang Ji-kyeong silently drained his cup.
The aide fell silent, waiting for him to speak.
After a few more cups, Wang Ji-kyeong finally opened his mouth.
“I’ll go back to the mansion tomorrow.”
“Then you’ll do it?”
“What choice do I have? To deal with those vultures at the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group, what other way is there? I’ll just write off those hundred thousand taels as charity.”
“Understood. Then stop drinking now and rest, my lord. Wine drunk in sorrow is like poison.”
“Fine, go rest.”
“Yes. See you tomorrow morning. Sleep well, my lord.”
Once the aide left, Wang Ji-kyeong drained several more cups, sank deep into his chair, and let his gaze harden.
“Merchant, of all things. They come begging to borrow money one day, then this bastard princess act from a concubine’s spawn!”
Wang Ji-kyeong hated the word “merchant” most. He’d heard it plenty on his rise, but once he gained wealth and power, he crushed every one who uttered it.
“And that guy—stick to swinging your sword and leave the lecturing to others!”
His resentment soon turned to Yi Hwan.
Truth be told, Yi Hwan’s advice had stung. But pride forced him to lash out instead of agree.
Heh.
Wang Ji-kyeong suddenly smirked.
“Still, he’s the first warrior to talk to me like that. The others just guarded me half-heartedly and took their pay.”
Wang Ji-kyeong rose, shrugging off his robes. As if waiting, the wall parted, revealing two women.
“My mood’s foul today. You two soothe me.”
“Yes, my lord.”
* * *
The next morning.
Yi Yeong and Song Cheon-ho sipped tea and talked. Song Cheon-ho asked casually,
“Is it truly fine to follow the Great Prince’s will?”
“Brother must have it all figured out. Just trust and follow him.”
Song Cheon-ho smiled faintly.
“I follow only my wife’s will, not the Great Prince’s. I always have, and I always will.”
Yi Yeong smiled too, gently taking Song Cheon-ho’s hand.
“Don’t say that. Our family endured this long thanks to you holding the center.”
“I’m just grateful you think so, my lady.”
That was when it happened.
“Brother, it’s Cheon-mu.”
Song Cheon-mu’s voice drifted in from outside. The two quickly released their hands and exchanged awkward smiles.
“Come in.”
Song Cheon-mu opened the door and entered. Yi Yeong stood.
“I’ll prepare tea.”
“No need. I’m fine.”
“Nonsense. We just got some fine tea—wait a moment.”
“Thank you!”
Yi Yeong stepped out.
She personally prepared tea for honored guests. The one she most wanted to serve now was Yi Hwan. She kept the priceless tea just for him.
‘You were watching over me. Thank you, Brother.’
She had wept upon receiving Yi Hwan’s letter via Go Mi last night.
Even now, her eyes grew misty.
“Your Highness, shall I prepare the tea?”
“No. I’ll do it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
* * *
Crown Prince’s Palace.
Crown Prince Yi So sat facing his general.
The room was thick with the aroma of Dragon Well tea, Yi So’s favorite.
A gift from the Song family—he wouldn’t touch any other.
“The Second Prince has been quiet lately. Probably thinks he’s secured the Southern Legion.”
“That makes sense. Paeng Mu-wi’s taken the commander’s seat.”
“The Great Prince said not to worry, but I can’t help it. If Paeng Mu-wi defies expectations and acts oddly, we won’t even get a chance to respond.”
“Perhaps.”
“For contingencies, shouldn’t we send more of our men now?”
Yi So set down his cup and eyed the general. A faint smile played on his lips.
“Let’s trust my brother for once.”
“I trust him too. But…….”
That was when it happened.
“Your Highness, the Moon Lord of the Moon Pavilion has come.”
Yi So and the general exchanged glances at the voice from outside.
“The Moon Lord? What brings her here from the Southern Legion?”
Yi So called out softly.
“Send her in.”
Moments later, Go Mi entered, bowed to Yi So, and produced a smoke signal from her bosom.
“The Great Prince asked me to deliver this.”
“Has something happened in the Southern Legion?”
“No. It proceeds as the Great Prince wills.”
Relieved, Yi So opened the signal. A rolled letter lay inside.
As he read, furrows formed on his brow.
“Where is my brother now?”
“Near the capital.”
“Why?”
“He’ll explain in detail himself later.”
The general asked, astonished.
“Then the Great Prince has left the Southern Legion?”
“Yes.”
The general looked to Yi So.
Yi So handed the letter to the general, who murmured after scanning it.
“What in the world is happening…….”
Go Mi said cautiously.
“The Great Prince awaits Your Highness’s reply.”
Yi So fell silent.
The general watched him quietly, while Go Mi bowed, awaiting his answer.
Finally, Yi So spoke.
“Go tell my brother to proceed as he wishes.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As Go Mi’s forehead touched the floor, Yi So asked,
“What do you make of my brother?”
The question carried layers of meaning.
But Go Mi answered promptly.
“He’s beyond this servant’s measure to judge.”
“Good meaning?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
A smile touched Yi So’s lips.
“Go serve my brother well. If anything happens to him, I’ll hold you accountable.”