222. Shall We Do One Thing? (1)
The road from Henan straight to Beijing couldn't exactly be called pleasant.
There were official post roads, sure, but it still meant crossing rivers and scaling mountains.
And yeah, the cold was an issue too.
But the chill didn't bother me much. The same went for the other warriors.
Palgap... well, he had the Heat-Resisting Jade I gave him hanging around his neck.
I'd sent a letter to my father via express pigeon, explaining the unavoidable circumstances that required me to head to Beijing.
In response, he'd dispatched a pigeon to my aunt, informing her of my visit and urging me to travel safely.
He'd also instructed me to take the four squads of the Silver Wind Force I'd brought along and return with them.
He was clearly worried about my safety.
"We're lucky there's no snow. Roads get slippery when it falls."
I nodded at the squad leader of the Silver Wind Force.
"True enough. But it's almost like it's not snowing enough."
"Hmm, now that you mention it... yeah. We should've had a couple of big storms by now..."
To my eyes, this near-total lack of snow signaled the coming famine.
Especially after the disasters that had ravaged the farmlands this past spring...
We arrived in Beijing without incident.
"Come in, come in. No troubles on the road?"
"None at all. I hope you've been well, Aunt."
"Of course."
My aunt gave us a quick once-over and spoke.
"I've prepared rooms for you. Must've been rough in this cold—go rest up."
"Yes, ma'am."
It had definitely grown colder the farther north we'd traveled.
My guards and I were fine, but the Silver Wind squads had struggled a bit.
"You've all worked hard getting here."
The squad leader chuckled at my words.
"Hard? If we shivered through a little cold like this, External Corps Leader Go would strike us down with lightning. Haha!"
Hmm, yeah, Go the external corps leader would...
"Get some rest inside."
"Yes, sir."
Palgap, my guards, and I entered the inner quarters.
Among the non-family members, only attendants, maids, and guards were allowed inside.
"Ugh, I'm beat."
"I'll prepare your bath, young master."
"Thanks. Appreciate it."
With Palgap's help, I washed up thoroughly and collapsed onto the bed.
.
.
.
When I opened my eyes, evening had already fallen.
I must've been exhausted and passed right out.
"Did you cough, young master?"
"Yeah. Already night?"
"Yes, just in time for dinner. I was about to wake you."
"See? I always time these things perfectly."
"Sure, sure."
Palgap humored me half-heartedly and hurried me along.
"We should go. They're waiting in the dining hall."
"Oh! R-right!"
Scratching my cheek, I headed to the dining room. Everyone was seated, waiting for me.
My uncle was absent, no doubt tied up with work.
"Sorry I'm late."
"No matter. You looked wiped out—shouldn't have woken you."
"Not at all. I just woke up naturally."
I quickly took my seat and dug into dinner.
I hadn't felt starved, but apparently my stomach disagreed.
One bite in, and suddenly I was ravenous.
"Oh, Seo-ho."
"Yes, Aunt?"
"I have good news. Seon-mi’s marriage is settled."
Seon-mi had just turned eighteen after her recent birthday.
Her face flushed, she kept her head bowed.
"Wonderful news. Who's the groom?"
"The third son of the Won household, from the Ministry of Rites."
Good—it matched my previous life.
She'd married the third son of Minister Won back then too.
His name was...
"He's a sixth-rank stipendiary in the Hanlin Academy, and my senior there."
Seon-il hyung explained further.
Ah, right, I remembered now.
He'd visited my aunt's house with Seon-il hyung, fallen for Seon-mi at first sight, and sent a matchmaker.
He'd be leaving Beijing soon.
A year later, he'd be appointed as a prefect.
A prefect was a fifth-rank post.
As a local official, it might seem like a demotion despite the rank, but it was the emperor's test—and a chance to gain field experience.
To judge if they could handle real-world duties, if they were worth greater responsibilities.
The problem was the famine coming soon.
Still, Seon-mi's husband had managed his prefecture well enough to earn promotion, though he never reached third rank or higher.
I offered Seon-mi my congratulations.
"Congratulations. You'll make each other happy."
"Thank you, brother."
After dinner and handling some personal matters, I headed to Seon-il hyung's quarters.
He'd asked to speak privately.
"Hyung, it's me."
"Come in."
I entered his room.
Calling me here alone meant there was something confidential.
"Sit."
"Yes."
As I sat, he poured tea himself.
"Thank you."
We sipped and chatted idly—how Father and the family were doing, how cute Geon-hyeok and Bo-yeon had grown, that sort of thing.
A brief silence fell, and Seon-il hyung closed his eyes.
Now for the real talk.
"Mm, the reason I called you... you can probably guess. It's about Seon-mi's marriage."
I listened quietly.
"Truth is, her in-laws have been whispering about our family."
"As expected."
They were a lineage of officials—houses like that often looked down on merchants.
Even though they'd be lost without us.
Anyway, Seon-mi could marry in because he was the third son.
So the rumors had started even before the wedding.
"We went ahead because Seon-mi wanted it, but as her brother... I'm worried."
"Yeah, the gossip won't stop."
Her in-laws would likely ignore or ostracize her, subtly or not.
Claiming she didn't match their status.
Why did I think that?
Because in my past life, it had happened.
Seon-mi had brushed it off, but it must've hurt.
"That's why I'm asking you if there's a way to stand up for her."
Seon-il hyung continued.
"I know my limits. I'm book-smart but not worldly like you—I can't come up with clever schemes. So I'm asking for your help."
He clasped his hands in a formal bow.
"Lend me your wisdom, please."
I looked at Seon-il hyung.
This humble side of him felt unfamiliar.
In my past life, by this point, he'd been disillusioned and cynical.
Reacting coldly to Seon-mi's marriage and her plight.
But his heart probably hadn't been that cold.
He'd just been worn down by his circumstances and a world that offered no help.
Not this time.
He was bowing his head to me, all for Seon-mi.
How could I refuse?
"Got it. I'll think of something good."
"Thank you."
Only then did Seon-il hyung smile, relief washing over him.
It was a warm smile.
Though speaking of which, Seon-il hyung was at marriageable age himself. No plans?
.
.
.
The next morning, I met a man from the palace.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop of the Gold Guard, as usual.
We'd been seeing a lot of each other lately.
"It's been a while."
"Indeed. Ah, yes—you sought my advice before. Was that for this?"
"Spot on. Your counsel was invaluable."
"Glad to hear I helped."
I entered the palace with Jin Yeong Daehyeop and soon had an audience with the Emperor.
"Your subject Eun Seo-ho pays respects to His Supreme Majesty the Emperor. Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand."
"Rise."
"Your grace humbles me."
"Well done again."
"Your subject merely seeks to repay Your Majesty's boundless benevolence..."
I started with formalities, but the Emperor chuckled and cut me off.
"Be honest. That pissed you off too, didn't it?"
"...Can't deny it."
"Hah, even I thought, 'What kind of bastard is this?'"
The eunuch interjected at the Emperor's rough language.
"Your Majesty, mind your dignity."
"No ministers here—what's the harm?"
Grumbling, the Emperor turned to me.
"Anyway, you cleaned that bastard out, right?"
Couldn't fool the Emperor.
But admitting it outright would be foolish.
"That was not this subject's doing, but Heaven's will."
"Heaven, huh..."
The Emperor stared, then burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Fine, we'll call it that. You really stuck it to the Murim Alliance—excellent."
He'd seen that far too.
"Lately, those Murim Alliance dogs keep sniffing around the palace. Been getting on my nerves."
Irritation etched his face.
Too strong a reaction for just planting spies.
Time to probe.
"They must be testing Your Majesty's patience."
"You could say that."
He nodded, face sour.
"Feels like they're after something."
"If it bothers you that much, why not sweep them away?"
"I'd love to. But..."
The Emperor sighed.
"You know there are righteous heroes among the murim folk. The people benefit from them often."
True enough.
Those who stood with the weak against villains were useful to the empire.
"If I strike now, while they're still seen as 'good,' it complicates things."
Meaning, if they lost that "good" reputation, the game changed.
"Besides, the Alliance isn't weak. Fighting them would cost me many valued men. No need for that now."
A candid answer, uncharacteristic of him.
"Anyway, that Ma Jeong will get a public execution—crime's too heinous for less. His nephews get labor sentences. Considered labor for him too, but his body's too wrecked."
Made sense after all he'd endured.
"It'll warn the other villains."
"Right. And per your suggestion, I sent edicts to all local officials. Quite effective."
Ah, the one about disgorging bribes as grain.
Knew he'd like it.
I bowed in thanks, and he moved on.
"Snow's barely fallen this year."
"Yes."
"Your famine omen, perhaps."
"..."
"Good work. You're dismissed."
Jin Yeong Daehyeop waited outside the Emperor's office.
"Audience go well?"
"Yes."
Escorting me out, no doubt the Emperor's courtesy.
Perfect—I needed the Gold Guard's help anyway.
After walking some distance to a secluded spot, I spoke.
"Daehyeop, I heard the Gold Guard shone in that matter."
Gathering intel on bribe-takers.
He nodded, grasping my point.
"Many worked hard."
But his expression wasn't joyful.
"Why don't you seem pleased?"
"That obvious?"
He gave a wry smile.
"Truth is, feels like we're not aiding His Majesty enough lately."
"Why think that?"
He sighed.
"His Majesty's eyes are elsewhere, aren't they?"
The Eastern Depot.
The eunuch-run intel network, operating empire-wide.
Meaning they'd outshone the Gold Guard this time.
Worked in my favor.
My pitch would land better.
"Can't be helped. If they're his eyes and ears, the Gold Guard are his hands and feet."
"True, but..."
He trailed off.
As a Gold Guard man, he wanted to prove their superiority to the Emperor.
"That's why I'm asking: care to do one job with me?"
"A job?"
"Yes. Something to show the realm the Gold Guard are truly His Majesty's hands and feet."
He eyed me suspiciously, wondering if it was shady.
Tsk, what do you take me for...?
Nothing like that.
I met his gaze seriously.
"By any chance... good at breaking ice?"