Imperial Silk Delivery Competition (7)
The Empress asked with a faint smile.
"How did you know I would attend the imperial event dressed in red?"
I had already anticipated this question as well.
"Lady Hyangbi just informed me."
Lady Hyangbi tilted her head in confusion, while the Empress inquired with an intrigued expression.
"Lady Hyangbi just told you?"
"Yes. Not with words, of course. But Lady Hyangbi clearly lost herself gazing at the silk for a moment."
I continued.
"It meant she liked it. However, after seeing you, Your Majesty, she said she would decline it. Not that she disliked it or found it unappealing—she specifically refused it. In other words, there was a situation where she couldn't choose that red silk."
"Ho...."
"Lady Hyangbi must have wanted to show her respect for Your Majesty by refusing the silk, but that's when I caught on. I suspected that during major palace events, red might be a color permitted only to Your Majesty."
The Empress smiled gently at my calm explanation.
"You have sharp eyes."
"It's merely a merchant's petty trick."
Baekcheon Merchant Group had effectively self-destructed.
Perhaps out of impatience because Eunhae Merchant Group had succeeded with the exact same approach right behind them, in their second chance, internal disagreements erupted among them.
That may have been the precursor, as by the third chance, the disagreements escalated into outright shouting.
Judging by the sour expressions on the Empress and the consorts' faces, which had gone cold, their scores wouldn't be high.
The eunuch announced.
"This concludes the fourth stage of the competition. Please return to your quarters; we will notify you shortly regarding the final stage."
Once the representatives from the seven merchant groups had departed, only the judges remained at the competition venue.
They each scored the merchant groups that had selected silk for them.
The maximum score per judge was five points, and with three chances per group, fifteen points was the highest possible total.
The Empress nodded in satisfaction upon reviewing the scores they had submitted.
It was exactly as she had expected.
'The outcome is already decided. The fifth stage seems rather pointless.'
The gap was that overwhelming.
Soon, her gaze lingered on one merchant group's name, and her expression turned icy.
Those who dared engage in dirty tricks during a competition she oversaw could hardly expect leniency.
And the Empress held grudges for a long time.
Baekcheon Merchant Group was currently staying at an inn in Beijing. To be precise, they had rented out the entire place.
Because of this, the original guests had been hastily evicted with their belongings, but Baekcheon Merchant Group paid it no mind.
After all, prioritizing the powerful was the creed of Baekcheon Merchant Group, a subsidiary of the Murim Alliance.
The best room in the inn naturally belonged to Namgung Bo.
"Damn it!"
Bam!
He slammed his fist down on the table.
The table shattered into pieces and scattered.
Even he had to admit they had botched the fourth stage miserably.
Yet he couldn't lash out at the managers who had accompanied him.
They were all connected by unbreakable ties to the Murim Alliance's heavyweights, like iron chains.
Shifting blame or snapping at them in his true temperament would turn those elders against him as well.
And that would mean kissing goodbye to his position as the next leader of Baekcheon Merchant Group.
It wasn't time yet.
He had to endure and wait.
But Namgung Bo needed an outlet for his rage, and Eunhae Merchant Group—the ones who had humiliated Baekcheon—became the target.
And there was one more reason.
"Without Eunhae Merchant Group, we'd still be in the running."
They had flubbed the fourth competition, but their performance in the others had been solid.
They had to win this contest.
By any means necessary.
His eyes gleamed fiercely.
"Chwi!"
"Yes!"
At his call, a man named Chwi entered the room.
Seeing the pulverized table, he immediately grasped that Namgung Bo was in a foul mood.
He had to tread carefully.
Or he might end up like that table.
"You called for me?"
"Any word from our plants in the palace?"
"Well...."
As Namgung Bo's face darkened, he hurriedly replied.
"Contact has been cut off."
"Cut off?"
"Yes, we're looking into what happened."
"I see...."
Namgung Bo intuited that the palace had caught on and dealt with them.
In that case....
"Chwi."
"Yes, speak."
"We need to force Eunhae Merchant Group to withdraw."
"Pardon?"
"Exactly as I said. They're in the way."
A few days had passed since the fourth stage.
After finishing my morning meditation, I stepped out of my room, and Palgap bowed to me.
"Happy birthday, young master."
"Thanks."
Today marked my twentieth birthday.
In other words, five years since I began this new life.
Time really flies, doesn't it?
I straightened my robes and headed to the dining hall for breakfast. The Yeonjun Merchant Group also gathered as a family for meals.
I'd heard it was a condition my great-uncle had imposed on my uncle when my aunt married into the family.
As I entered the dining hall, my uncle was already there.
"Ah, did you sleep well?"
"Yes, and you?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"And happy birthday. It's your twentieth, right?"
"Thank you."
I cupped my hands in a respectful bow, and my uncle smiled.
"I heard from your aunt. Such a special day, and it's a shame you can't spend it with your family."
"A merchant's duties sometimes make it unavoidable. Besides, you and Aunt are like family to me."
"That warms my heart."
I meant it sincerely.
Coming to Beijing so often had made them feel as close as my real kin.
"By the way, the merchant group seems to be prospering more these days."
"Thanks to your help before, things have been going well since. We even secured a new deal."
"Congratulations."
"It's all thanks to you."
"No, it's your own capabilities that achieved those results."
My uncle chuckled heartily.
"You sweet-talker, but thank you. Speaking of which, only the final stage of the competition remains, doesn't it?"
A eunuch had visited yesterday to inform us about the fifth stage.
The final competition was tomorrow.
"Yes, and you'll pull it off right to the end. I pray for your success."
"Thank you."
Soon, my aunt, Seon-mi, and Seon-il hyung arrived, and everyone sincerely celebrated my birthday.
"Seo-ho."
"Yes, Aunt?"
"Everyone's busy, but it's your twentieth birthday. It feels wrong to let it pass quietly, so how about a little feast tonight?"
"A feast?"
"Nothing grand—just us eating well and having fun."
"But everyone's so busy...."
"No matter how busy, we can spare that much time."
"That's right, big brother."
With my cousins chiming in, I couldn't refuse modestly any longer.
"Thank you so much. I'll look forward to the evening feast."
......
......
I was strolling slowly through the Yeonjun Merchant Group's rear garden.
Since the fourth stage had differed from my expectations, I had no idea what the fifth might entail.
I'd meant to relax my mind, but an ominous feeling crept in.
Birthdays always bring bad vibes, huh?
Maybe because the day I died was my birthday?
Once I finish my revenge on the Murim Alliance and Baekcheon Merchant Group, it'll get better, right?
But today felt especially off.
Then, a servant from Yeonjun Merchant Group approached me.
"Um, Subgroup Leader. A letter for you."
"A letter?"
"Yes, some kid asked me to deliver it."
I tilted my head and reached for it, but—
"Young master! It's dangerous! What if it's poisoned?"
Palgap intercepted and took the letter first.
"Huh?"
He wasn't wrong, but if it were poisoned, the servant who brought it wouldn't be fine.
Still, Palgap looked serious, so I waited quietly without arguing.
Palgap inspected the letter thoroughly before handing it over.
"You don't usually do this—why now?"
"It just felt ominous, sir."
"...!"
His words sent a chill down my spine.
On my thirty-ninth birthday, the day I died.
I still remembered the letter Jin-ho hyung had sent me.
It said a birthday spread was prepared and waiting.
Palgap had inspected that letter first, too.
When I asked why, he tilted his head and said,
"It just felt ominous, sir."
What if I hadn't brushed it off then? Would things have been different?
"Young master? What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
I shook my head to clear the thoughts and opened the letter.
"......"
Damn it all.
"Whew...."
I took several deep breaths to steady myself.
My mind cleared.
In my previous life, I'd dealt with kidnappings and threats more than once or twice.
I couldn't afford to panic over something like this.
I immediately instructed Palgap.
"Find out where Gold Lodge Manager is. Right now."
"Yes, sir!"
I now understood the unease I'd felt all day and why Palgap had been extra cautious.
It was because of whoever sent this letter.
Baekcheon Merchant Group.
My instincts screamed it, and my reason agreed.
They were the only ones who would target me like this.
If it were just about money, they wouldn't have sent such a letter.
Coming alone, carrying 1,000 nyang in silver myself.
Those two demands made their intent obvious.
Exhausted from the heavy silver, they'd kidnap or kill me.
1,000 nyang in silver taels was quite heavy.
Eunhae Merchant Group would have no choice but to withdraw from the competition then.
Impossible to continue without their representative, who would be missing or dead.
Sloppy work, though.
I wouldn't handle it this way.
Not that I'd stoop to such petty tactics in the first place.
Back in my room organizing my thoughts, Palgap returned with a report.
"Gold Lodge Manager went out this morning, sir."
"With escorts?"
"One Silver Wind Squad warrior, sir."
"He usually stays inside...."
"He went out to buy a birthday gift for you, sir."
"Ah...."
It hit harder knowing he'd gone out for my birthday gift.
I hadn't expected a gift from someone who'd once been at odds with me.
But that wasn't important now.
Gold Lodge Manager was a valuable asset to our merchant group.
A staunch supporter of Jeong Ho hyung, too.
Above all, he was family to Eunhae Merchant Group, so we had to rescue him.
But I had no intention of following the letter's demands with 1,000 nyang in silver.
No way I'd give those bastards my hard-earned money, and the wise way to handle ambushes is to strike where they're vulnerable.
I flicked my sleeve and summoned Gold령.
"Gold령, come out."
"Kkwi?"
"Gold Lodge Manager's been kidnapped. Any idea where?"
Gold령 hopped to the floor and explained with its tail.
"Hm, so you need something he used?"
"Kkwi!"
I immediately sent someone for one of his belongings.
"Kkwi! Kkwi. Kku!"
Even without the tail, I got the gist.
"Payment in silver?"
"Kkwi!"
Fair enough.
I handed Gold령 some silver, which it snapped up and swallowed.
Then Palgap brought Gold Lodge Manager's item.
Sniff sniff.
Gold령 sniffed it, spun three circles in place, then bolted westward.
About an hour later, Gold령 returned, tugging my pant leg.
"Follow you?"
"Kkwi!"
As I hurried after it, I sensed eyes watching me.
Perfect—time to use that to our advantage.
I sent sound transmissions to Palgap, Yeo Eung-am Warrior, and I-pil Warrior: Act like I'm still in my room.
Then, taking only Seo-u Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior, I slipped out the window.
After about fifteen minutes following Gold령, we reached a quiet, rundown house.
Parts of it had collapsed, suggesting it was abandoned.
Through the gaps, I spotted Gold Lodge Manager and the Silver Wind Squad warrior bound to a pillar.
Good—they were still alive.
Damn you, Namgung Bo. You've gone too far.
The guards around were none other than black path thugs.
Hiring black path scum for the Murim Alliance's flagship merchant group.
Even in this, he kept his own hands clean.
"Everyone remember the plan?"
"Of course."
"Then let's go."
Daring to pull this on my birthday?
You're all dead!