Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Pruning (2)
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Yi So, having checked Yi Hwan’s letter, asked Go Mi.
“Is this information truly usable as evidence?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You’ve truly accomplished something great. Even the East Depot couldn’t manage it.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Just then, Jang Su entered with tea.
“Both of you, sit.”
“Yes.”
Go Mi, who had planned to leave quickly, had no choice but to take a seat.
Yi So asked Go Mi again.
“Did my younger brother say anything else?”
“He only said to think of it as pruning.”
Yi So smiled faintly.
“Pruning, huh. It fits the situation perfectly. There’s no doubt the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group is a major branch for the Second Prince.”
Yi So took a sip of tea and continued, staring straight at Jang Su.
“From tomorrow, you’ll participate in court affairs, so prepare accordingly.”
“Already?”
“The youngest seems to think that publicizing the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group’s corruption in court will prevent the Second Prince from acting recklessly. I share the same view, of course.”
“The Yellow Dragon Merchant Group is the Fourth Prince’s funding source. Do you think they’ll just sit idly by? They’ll resist in some way.”
“Half of the court officials still support me. Among them are quite a few meritorious retainers who have served His Majesty their entire lives. Even if Her Majesty the Empress steps in, she won’t be able to touch them all.”
“Then…….”
Jang Su and Go Mi were extremely curious about Yi So’s next words. Yi So took another sip of tea before continuing.
Clink.
“We’ll expose the corruption between the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group and the provincial governor, then seize the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group. That’s the youngest’s plan. It cuts off their funding without directly provoking the Second Prince. Publicizing it ensures Her Majesty the Empress and the Second Prince can’t intervene recklessly. They know that rashly defending a scandal under the court’s watchful eye could backfire.”
“Ah!”
Jang Su realized the meaning and let out an exclamation of admiration. Go Mi, too, finally understood the meaning of “pruning.”
She thought of Yi Hwan.
‘He’s truly unfathomable.’
Even while orchestrating such a grand scheme, Yi Hwan had never worn a serious expression. Honestly, it had made her uneasy. Was he taking the situation too lightly?
“Censor.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Do you need more men?”
“This is sufficient, Your Highness.”
“If you need anything at all, request assistance anytime. Understood?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Yi So gazed at Jang Su and continued.
“As soon as day breaks, go with the censor and bring the witness. Of course, without them noticing.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Yi So rose and retrieved something from a cabinet. It was a bottle of liquor coated in gold leaf.
“This is the famed Haedong liquor bestowed by His Majesty. I’ve finally brought it out.”
“I’ll inform the others to receive the honor.”
“No.”
Shaking his head, Yi So handed the liquor to Go Mi.
“Give this to the youngest. Convey that I am deeply grateful.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Now, all of you withdraw and rest.”
Moments later, Jang Su and Go Mi stepped outside.
“I’ll guide you to your quarters.”
“Yes.”
The two walked side by side toward the southern part of the palace. Midway, Jang Su asked.
“What kind of man is the Great Prince, as observed by the censor?”
“…….”
Go Mi couldn’t answer immediately. No suitable words came to mind when describing Yi Hwan.
‘Unfathomable? Far more terrifying than expected?’
Various phrases surfaced, but none she could voice. In the end, Go Mi gave the same response she had to Yi So before.
“He is beyond my humble judgment.”
Jang Su simply smiled.
Moments later, Go Mi entered her room.
Lost in thought on his way back to his quarters, Jang Su suddenly brightened.
‘Come to think of it, today he kept referring to the Great Prince as the youngest.’
* * *
The next morning.
Go Mi and Jang Su left the Imperial Palace. Naturally, Jang Su was in disguise, complete with a human skin mask.
Thanks to Go Mi’s censor’s badge, exiting the palace was no issue. They headed straight for the Song family estate to meet Yi Hwan.
Upon arriving at the estate shortly after, Cheol Mu-ok, who had arrived earlier with Yi Hwan, greeted them.
“He’s waiting in the annex.”
The two headed to the annex.
Upon reaching it, Jang Su bowed deeply to Yi Hwan.
“I greet the Great Prince.”
“Sit.”
Go Mi and Jang Su sat opposite Yi Hwan.
“How did it go?”
“His Highness decided to attend court starting today. He said he’ll publicize the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group and provincial governor issue as soon as the Great Prince signals.”
Yi Hwan nodded silently and tilted his teacup.
Clink.
“When bringing the witness to the palace, I plan to enter as well. I’ll need a suitable identity. Any suggestions?”
Jang Su pondered.
Then Go Mi spoke up.
“How about as a warrior from the Censor’s Office? I have to escort the provincial governor’s messenger anyway, so it seems safest.”
“Not bad.”
“I agree. Any identity tied to the Crown Prince’s Palace would draw attention.”
“Understood. Then I’ll be a warrior from the Censor’s Office.”
As Yi Hwan lifted his teacup again, Go Mi presented the liquor from Yi So.
“His Highness said to give you this.”
“Liquor?”
“Yes. He conveyed that he is always grateful.”
Though a gift from the Crown Prince could be a family honor, Yi Hwan immediately uncorked it.
Pop.
A crisp sound accompanied a faint aroma of liquor. Jang Su’s eyes widened in shock. He hadn’t imagined it would be opened right away.
Go Mi, however, remained composed.
She had expected Yi Hwan to do exactly this. From what she had observed, he wasn’t one to be moved by the Crown Prince’s gifts.
“If it’s liquor given to drink, we should drink it, right? Mu-ok, go fetch some side dishes.”
“Understood.”
Glug glug.
Yi Hwan emptied his teacup and filled it with liquor, downing it in one gulp.
Thud!
A genuine smile crossed Yi Hwan’s face after drinking.
“First time for this liquor. Isn’t it expensive?”
“I believe it’s the famed Haedong liquor bestowed by His Majesty on His Highness.”
“Quite precious, then. I should get a few more bottles when the chance arises.”
“…….”
Jang Su started to speak but held back.
Even for the Crown Prince, imperial gifts weren’t limitless.
Moments later, Cheol Mu-ok entered personally with a small tray. Yi Hwan offered cups to the two.
Go Mi’s response was as expected.
“I cannot drink while on duty.”
“Are you ignoring the Crown Prince’s goodwill?”
“It was given to you, Great Prince…….”
“Just one cup.”
“……Yes.”
In the end, Go Mi accepted the cup.
* * *
Infinite care was poured into Yi Yeong’s sewing. The snow-white silk robe she had made herself was intended for Yi Hwan.
A smile never left her face as her hands moved.
Watching, Song Cheon-ho smiled faintly.
“Are you that happy?”
“Yes. So happy tears are welling up. Since childhood, my dream was to sew a robe for my brother myself.”
“We’ve stocked plenty of Haedong silk for gifts to the Great Prince, so sew as much as you like. I’ll procure more if needed.”
Song Cheon-ho felt grateful to Yi Hwan once more.
Since his arrival, Yi Yeong’s face had never been without a smile. He had done what Song Cheon-ho himself couldn’t.
‘I’m sorry. You suffered needlessly meeting a fool like me.’
It was then.
“Your Highness, the Great Prince requests you.”
* * *
Yi Hwan received the white robe from Yi Yeong.
“Did you make this yourself?”
“Yes, brother.”
“Then shall I try it on?”
Yi Hwan removed his outer robe and donned the white one. Though made by eye, it fit perfectly, as if measured with a ruler.
Jang Su smiled and said.
“It suits you well, Great Prince.”
“Now I look like the Great Prince?”
“You always have.”
Yi Hwan gazed at Yi Yeong and smiled faintly.
“I’ll wear it gratefully.”
Yi Yeong’s eyes reddened again. Since Yi Hwan’s arrival, she smiled easily and cried easily too. Tears of joy, of course.
“Bring it.”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae entered.
Both carried large money pouches.
Thud! Clank!
“Use this for the expenses of this friend’s household.”
“Brother, we already have plenty of money.”
“These are very precious people to me and this friend, so it’s to treat them more comfortably.”
As Yi Yeong hesitated to accept, Song Cheon-ho stepped forward.
“We gratefully accept.”
“Let’s go.”
As Yi Hwan stood and removed the white robe, Cheol Mu-ok took it.
Yi Yeong, Song Cheon-ho, and the Blade King lineage members saw off Yi Hwan’s group.
“Come again soon.”
“I’ll be quite busy for a few days. I’ll visit once things settle.”
“Always be careful, extra careful, brother.”
“I will.”
* * *
Yi Yeong and Song Cheon-ho couldn’t tear their eyes from Yi Hwan’s receding figure.
Song Cheon-ho said.
“That Jang Su and the Moon Lord of the Moon Pavilion are people even high officials dare not treat lightly. Yet they treat the Great Prince like their lord. The Great Prince has become like a great mountain. Or perhaps he always was.”
“He’s been brilliant since childhood, more than anyone in the imperial family. If only he weren’t born of a concubine…….”
Yi Yeong trailed off and turned to Song Cheon-ho.
“Let’s go in.”
The two turned away, regret lingering.
Eyes watched them.
* * *
Two burly men in utterly ordinary attire and appearance.
They stared at Yi Yeong and Song Cheon-ho entering the estate, eyes flashing.
“Tonight, we move.”
“Is that really okay? She’s imperial blood, after all.”
“Our target isn’t the princess, but the prince consort. The higher-ups want to remove the true pillar of the Song family.”
“The prince consort feels off too.”
“She’s a princess cast out by the imperial family. Killing her husband won’t cause much fuss. Especially with a poison that hides the cause of death—no one will notice.”
“……Yes.”
“We stay at the inn until nightfall.”
The two burly men moved to an inn some distance from the Song family estate.
Their companions were there.
Two more burly men.
* * *
Dark clouds shrouded the night sky.
Moon and stars vanished, turning the world pitch black.
Rustle.
Figures slicing through the darkness headed for the Song family estate. They lightly vaulted the fortress-like walls and climbed onto the main building’s roof.
One signaled with hand signs toward a spot.
The residence of the Yi Yeong couple.
All other rooms were dark, but that one blazed with light.
[Quickly eliminate and withdraw. If poison fails, use the sword. But do not touch the princess even with a fingertip.]
[Understood.]
As the men exchanged glances and moved to act, two shadows rose like ghosts behind them.
Two warriors from the Blade King lineage residing at the estate. They approached the masked men, slowly drawing their swords.
Shing.
The sound of swords drawn made the masked men whirl in alarm.
“……!”
“Erk!”
“How dare you come here.”
Flash!
A single sword beam flew. A severed head soared into the air. It happened before they could even dodge.
Clang clang clang!
The other three masked men hastily drew their swords. But one didn’t even finish drawing before his head flew.
Thud!
“Argh!”
The fight didn’t continue.
The two who drew couldn’t swing before collapsing limply. To avoid revealing their identities, they had bitten the poison bombs in their mouths.
“They bit poison bombs.”
“We should have interrogated them…….”
Then, lights flickered on throughout the estate as warriors rushed out.
Yi Yeong and Song Cheon-ho opened their window.
Whoosh!
“Assassins infiltrated.”
“Did you say assassins?!”
“Yes. All eliminated. Rest easy.”
Yi Yeong and Song Cheon-ho’s faces hardened utterly. Assassins had never breached the estate before.
“Are you both alright?”
“We’re fine, Your Highness.”
In that moment, to Yi Yeong and Song Cheon-ho, the two young men were more reliable than anyone in the world.