Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Back to the Southern Legion
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The next day, in Moon Pavilion's grand hall.
With the ministers from various departments watching, the interrogation began. Go Mi personally took charge of the questioning, while the prefect and Yeom Yu-gwang underwent interrogation bound in ropes.
As expected, the prefect denied all charges.
He insisted that all the valuables received from Yeom Yu-gwang were gifts with no strings attached, and Yeom Yu-gwang backed him up.
The Second Prince's ministers scoffed.
"Treating the head of a region like a criminal based on mere suspicion. By that logic, who among us sitting here wouldn't be a criminal!"
"The Censor should produce solid evidence at once!"
Go Mi had anticipated this reaction, so her gaze didn't waver in the slightest.
The Crown Prince's supporters jumped in.
"It seems bribery is routine for you lot? Two gold toads worth over a hundred taels each as gifts? What a joke!"
"No strings attached, you say! No strings!"
"Whether there were strings or not will come out through the interrogation, so don't interfere and stay quiet!"
"Your voice is louder!"
"What did you say? You? Watch that mouth of yours!"
As both sides raised their voices, continuing the interrogation became impossible.
'These are the ministers devouring the people's taxes.'
Yi Hwan was dumbfounded.
He felt a surge of quiet anger, especially watching the Second Prince's ministers blatantly trying to obstruct the proceedings.
Just then, a stir rose from the back.
Second Prince Yi Tae-ji was entering the interrogation hall. Yi Hwan stared at Yi Tae-ji's face.
'Seeing him in person, he looks even more vicious than in the memories.'
He had never seen him before, but through the original owner's memories, Yi Tae-ji was etched as the worst kind of person.
Yi Tae-ji sneered at Go Mi.
"The Moon Lord of Moon Pavilion acting as Censor. Since when could anyone become a Censor?"
"This servant merely follows Crown Prince's orders."
Before Yi Tae-ji could continue, Go Mi turned toward Yi Hwan's side and commanded.
"Bring in the witness!"
"Yes."
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae entered from the inner room. Everyone's attention focused on where they had gone.
The prefect and Yeom Yu-gwang exchanged uneasy glances.
The prefect asked in a low voice.
"Any of your people get caught?"
"No, sir. What about your side?"
"My nephew who went to Wang Ji-kyeong's place hasn't returned. But don't worry. That kid is...."
The prefect trailed off, his eyes suddenly widening. Yeom Yu-gwang's head also snapped reflexively toward where Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae had entered.
Someone was being dragged out.
Her hair was disheveled over her prison garb, making it hard to identify her, but judging by the prefect's reaction, it was clearly his nephew.
"You bastard, what the hell happened? Why are you...."
It was as he thought.
The youth who had gone to Wang Ji-kyeong's mansion sat silently before the prefect and Yeom Yu-gwang.
Go Mi's questioning began. The youth, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke with force at the crucial point.
"This lowly one merely followed the prefect's orders. I never pocketed any of the bribes received dozens of times from the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group for personal gain."
"So you passed them all to the prefect?"
"Some I delivered directly, and some I placed in the secret fund location myself. There are ledgers there—please check them!"
The prefect's eyes nearly bulged out.
"You bastard! Shut your mouth! What nonsense are you spouting!"
"Guard, gag that man!"
"Yes!"
Cheol Mu-ok strode forward and stuffed a gag into the prefect's mouth.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Go Mi asked again.
"You called them bribes yourself—what makes you think so?"
"How could valuables exceeding a million taels in silver be mere gifts? Even a three-year-old child would laugh."
Murmurs!
Even the Second Prince's ministers stirred greatly at the youth's words.
Anxiety flickered across Yi Tae-ji's face, and Yi Hwan watched with a faint smile.
[Wrap it up here.]
At Yi Hwan's transmission, Go Mi turned to the ministers and said.
"From our investigation so far, we found no evidence that the bribes flowed upward beyond the prefect. Therefore, I request severe punishment for Prefect Jang Bo and Yellow Dragon Merchant Group leader Yeom Yu-gwang!"
In that instant, Yi Hwan saw it.
The relief in Yi Tae-ji's eyes.
It wasn't just him. Some ministers exchanged glances, visibly relieved.
Naturally, they were the Second Prince's men, relieved the matter hadn't reached Yi Tae-ji.
Then it happened.
"Crown Prince arrives!"
Everyone in the hall rose from their seats. Yi Tae-ji reluctantly stood slowly as well.
Crown Prince Yi So entered the interrogation hall.
The verdict was his to give.
Yi So slowly scanned the ministers before turning to Go Mi.
"Censor, compile their charges in writing and report to me. I will pronounce the verdict after review."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Yi So left the interrogation hall immediately.
Before departing, Gwan Ji-baek gave Yi Hwan a slight smile.
[Well done, Great Prince.]
* * *
Two days earlier.
Yi Hwan had personally interrogated the prefect's nephew, the youth.
Of course, prior investigation revealed the youth harbored much resentment toward his uncle the prefect and a strong desire for advancement.
"Tell the truth, and we'll pretend the gold bars you got from Lord Wang's house never happened. And a heads-up: if you stay loyal to your uncle and clam up, you'll take the full blame alone."
"......!"
"What happens then?"
Cheol Mu-ok chimed in.
"Immediate decapitation, right? No, even lesser crimes have led to beheading, so if you're unlucky, it might be cauldron boiling instead."
The youth's face turned ashen.
Cauldron boiling involved placing the criminal in a cauldron and boiling them alive. In practice, it was just lukewarm water in and out, but afterward, one was treated as dead—a form of honorary punishment.
But in this era's Yeon Kingdom, they really boiled them to death.
It stemmed from the emperor's iron will to eradicate corruption.
Yi Hwan added casually.
"We couldn't care less about small fry like you. You're in a position where you had no choice but to obey your uncle, right? So come clean, and you'll be released right away. Crown Prince promised as much."
"The, the Crown Prince promised?"
Right on cue, Gwan Ji-baek entered.
Without the human skin mask, the youth recognized him instantly.
"His Highness already knows everything. Speak truthfully, and he promised no punishment for you."
"I-is that true, General?"
"Believe it."
Gwan Ji-baek was a hero-like figure among young officers. Before entering the Crown Prince's Palace, he had written legends of victory on countless battlefields—he was the living legend of Yeon Kingdom's military.
At his word to believe, the youth broke, confessing even what Go Mi hadn't uncovered.
* * *
Yi Hwan, Yi So, and Gwan Ji-baek gathered.
"Hahaha!"
Yi So laughed repeatedly.
Gwan Ji-baek looked at him, feeling anew his gratitude toward Yi Hwan.
Yi So asked.
"What do you think? What punishment should they get?"
"Not the prefect, but the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group leader—the Empress will likely seek a pardon soon after her return. Can you block that?"
"Even Her Majesty the Empress can't pardon lightly. Pardons are the emperor's absolute prerogative—she knows better than anyone the backlash of meddling."
"Then hit them with the maximum penalty possible. And restore the commerce and trade routes seized from the Song family to their original state. Moon Lord has the illegal records from Yellow Dragon Merchant Group, so no issues there."
"Yes, exactly."
Gwan Ji-baek asked cautiously.
"What about Wang Ji-kyeong? He's no less a villain than the merchant leader, is he?"
"Use barbarian to control barbarian."
"Then...."
Yi Hwan continued.
"From now on, Wang Ji-kyeong will be the Crown Prince's Palace's sturdiest funding source. Legally, of course."
Yi So and Gwan Ji-baek's eyes widened.
"You've already arranged it?"
"At least three million taels of silver a year. That should help plenty against the Empress."
"Ha, haha!"
Gwan Ji-baek laughed oddly from sheer shock. As Yi Hwan stood,
"Keep an eye on my sister from now on. Even as a bastard child, she's the only little sister in the world, isn't she? I'll trust you with it."
"Leaving already?"
"Staying in the Imperial Palace makes one day feel like a year...."
Yi Hwan grabbed his sword and headed for the door.
Yi So stood and called.
"Little brother."
Yi Hwan paused.
The word "little brother" tugged at his heart.
"Thank you. This brother owes you a huge debt."
"If you see it as debt, pay it back properly with interest after ousting the Empress and ascending the throne."
With that, Yi Hwan left the Crown Prince's Palace.
'What is this feeling?'
It felt strange.
What was it? Like he felt genuine brotherly bond with Yi So?
Yi Hwan soon scowled.
'This place definitely isn't for me.'
* * *
Two days later.
Yi Hwan sat face-to-face with Wang Ji-kyeong.
But Wang Ji-kyeong's face was downcast.
"You're really leaving?"
"What choice do I have? Crown Prince gave me a heavy duty, so I must go."
"It's something to celebrate, but what am I supposed to do without you? That bastard Yeom Yu-gwang will even send killers from prison to get me."
"Trust the three new guards I assigned. They'll protect you from any assassin. But treat them with the same devotion you showed me."
"Of course! How could I not? It's my life on the line—I'll treasure them like my own limbs."
Yi Hwan had assigned the three from the Blade King lineage as guards. Someone needed to stay by Wang Ji-kyeong for easier handling later.
"Then prosper."
"Wait a moment."
Wang Ji-kyeong went to the side room and returned with something. A small gold box.
"It's not much, but accept it as my sincerity."
"What's this?"
"Open it later. It'll be quite useful."
"Then I'll gratefully accept."
Yi Hwan headed outside.
Wang Ji-kyeong and many in the mansion, along with guards, followed to the main gate. The guards were as reluctant as Wang Ji-kyeong.
Yi Hwan said to the Blade King lineage youths.
"Make those guys strong. It'll make things easier for you."
"Understood!"
As Yi Hwan mounted, Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae followed suit.
"If you're ever coming to the capital, send word! I'll be waiting!"
Wang Ji-kyeong followed for a long way.
To him, Yi Hwan was no mere guard but a noble. As the shrewd fortune-teller had said.
* * *
Yi Hwan proceeded slowly.
Waiting for someone? Cheol Mu-ok occasionally glanced back.
"Better to wait properly, no?"
"That's why I'm going slow."
"......"
Then.
Thud thud thud!
From far behind, a rider kicked up dust like a gale. Yi Hwan smiled faintly just from the hoofbeats.
"That settles it—no gentleman."
Thud thud thud!
It was Go Mi.
"Sorry! I was late handling some matters!"
She wore Moon Pavilion attire.
"Crown Prince asked me to deliver this."
Yi Hwan took the sealed letter from Go Mi and tucked it away.
"Coming along?"
"Of course, Great Prince."
"Then shall we go?"
Thud thud thud!