A Clean Settlement (5)
The materials Master Bang had given me were mostly letters.
They were supposedly orders from Prince Se-gyeong to the Yeokcheon-do cult, but their contents were exactly as they appeared at first glance.
Things like "we must uproot them" or "as previously mentioned, eliminate them without leaving a trace."
Pretty ruthless.
Was Prince Se-gyeong always like this?
I set the letters aside for now and examined the other documents.
They were summaries of the situation when the Yeokcheon-do gang was subjugated.
Hmm...
The Yeokcheon-do had been hiding in a cave deep in a forest north of Shandong Province, with about five hundred members.
They'd been rapidly expanding their numbers using funds provided by Prince Se-gyeong...
But the distance between Jiangxi Province and Shandong was considerable. How had he issued instructions via letters one by one?
Curious, I rummaged through the documents, but...
"Nothing here."
"What's wrong?"
Master Bang asked, and I scratched the back of my neck as I replied.
"These letters. How exactly were they delivered and received? His Highness is in Jiangxi, and the Yeokcheon-do were in Shandong."
"Obviously by human courier. Using messenger pigeons would be too risky."
Messenger pigeons were fast, but the chance of letters getting lost en route was a major drawback.
That's why they sent multiple birds at once.
And if someone intercepted a pigeon and read the contents, that would be disastrous in itself.
"That's where it gets strange."
Master Bang furrowed his brow and approached at my words.
"What part?"
"Look at this letter and this one."
"This one says to observe as is, and this one acknowledges the reply and orders to strike when the time comes?"
"Not the content—the dates."
"Hm?"
"Just three days apart. Does that make sense? Even on horseback, it's over ten days between their base and His Highness's location."
"...!"
Master Bang's eyes widened at my explanation.
A peak expert or higher could manage it, but that would still be incredibly taxing.
Besides, using such a precious peak expert just as a messenger? Absurd.
"Then these letters are..."
"Yes, forged."
"But the handwriting is unmistakably His Highness's."
"That's why I thought about it, and then I noticed something odd in this letter."
"Where?"
I pointed to the right edge of the letter.
"The margin here—it's strange. Too narrow."
I continued.
"His Highness wouldn't skimp on paper like this. There must be a reason."
"Go on."
"Yes. Look here. See how the small characters on the right are cut off?"
"...!"
Master Bang's eyes widened again.
"Then, surely this is...?"
"Yes... the letter was sliced."
This was almost certain.
Otherwise, such traces wouldn't remain.
Now the question: what had been on the front part that was cut off?
"What kind of person is Prince Se-gyeong?"
"Hm..."
Master Bang pondered briefly before speaking.
"Honestly, an eccentric. Born into the imperial family, yet he's never voiced political opinions... He just spends his days tending flowers in the garden. Kind and gentle, a pillar of support for the imperial clan."
"That fits."
His words clicked everything into place in my mind.
"Flowers. Suppose these letters weren't about the Yeokcheon-do, but advice on flowers. Doesn't the tone change completely?"
I pressed on.
"'Uproot them' probably means pulling weeds by the roots. 'Eliminate without trace as previously mentioned' ties into that too."
"'Observe as is'—sent in spring, so watch after sowing seeds."
Our eyes met.
A strange thrill filled Master Bang's gaze.
"Hahaha!"
He slapped my back heartily.
"You clever boy! You pretty thing!"
"Ugh! It hurts!"
"Where have you been all this time? If we'd met sooner, I could've spared myself all that trouble."
I'd have been the one suffering instead.
And back then, I was quite frail.
Once he'd calmed a bit, Master Bang sat and changed the subject.
"By the way, who would do such a thing?"
"More importantly, why frame Prince Se-gyeong specifically?"
"True enough."
"It might be simpler than we think. Exchanging letters in three days implies the real recipient is within Jiangxi Province."
"We'll need to send someone to Jiangxi."
......
After finishing with Master Bang, I left the palace.
"Wait long?"
"No, sir."
"Not too long."
I scratched my neck at Palgap and the guards' replies. They'd probably waited ages despite saying otherwise.
"Back to your quarters now, young master?"
"Yeah."
I nodded.
"But Palgap, why's the moon so bright today?"
"Young master, that's the sun, not the moon."
"......"
Embarrassed, I turned away slyly.
So I'd pulled an all-nighter at the palace.
Still, it was a meaningful night. We'd found decisive proof to clear Prince Se-gyeong's name.
Master Bang would handle the rest.
He had the ability.
......
The hectic days continued afterward.
Summer was approaching, so it was time to release new fans.
I also launched chairs with curved backs that prevented back pain even after long sits.
We'd tested them internally beforehand, and the feedback was unanimously positive.
They kept posture straight, making extended sitting comfortable.
Hm, maybe we should expand into furniture.
Evenings, I resumed learning palace martial arts from Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
Given his busyness, he came every three days to teach, and I learned how the Se-gyeong affair was progressing.
"The men sent to Jiangxi brought new info. Ever heard of the Mingol Merchant Group?"
"Yes."
"I see. Apparently, there was a conflict with them."
Mingol Merchant Group.
How could I forget?
In my past life, they refused the herbs needed to cure the chief steward's illness.
And they'd clashed with them?
"Word is, Mingol's rough and reckless, sacrificing people while expanding influence and earning a bad reputation. So Prince Se-gyeong spoke up."
How would Prince Se-gyeong have known I needed those herbs in my past life?
Because he was watching the Mingol Merchant Group.
And crucially, I'd learned that the Murim Alliance backed Mingol.
That had fueled my rage even more.
That they could be so vile despite the supposedly righteous Murim Alliance's support.
Anyway, Mingol's involvement meant the Murim Alliance intended to frame him.
Why was this happening now, unlike my past life?
Simple.
Mingol was expanding via the merchant group, and Prince Se-gyeong got in the way.
So they tried to tie him to treason this time.
Dirty, scary bastards.
Something had changed from my past life to trigger this...
But since it involved me, I couldn't let them escape scot-free.
"Daehyeop, so Mingol slandered His Highness?"
"Likely, but not confirmed."
"Then there's probably someone behind them."
"Hm?"
"Why would a mere merchant group dare such audacity?"
"Fair point."
"And there'll be evidence. Like a Murim Alliance warrior among their escorts."
The Alliance always plants their own in affiliated groups.
This hint should let them catch the tail.
......
Days passed.
I was spending another ordinary day when...
June was nearly here.
Fortunately, the barley harvest hadn't failed utterly, so the hunger gap wasn't severe.
But the autumn harvest would still be poor this year.
"Young master! Young master!"
Palgap came rushing in breathlessly.
"What is it?"
"Jin Yeong Daehyeop is here."
What? It wasn't a palace arts lesson day.
Puzzled, I headed to the reception room.
As if waiting, Jin Yeong Daehyeop rose.
"Prepare quickly."
"Pardon?"
"His Majesty summons you."
......
Soon after,
I headed to the palace with Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
En route, I got the gist.
"So the culprit behind it was the Murim Alliance?"
He nodded at my question.
"Indeed."
As I thought.
"Investigation revealed a Murim Alliance clan behind it."
Chopping off tails, as expected.
Not necessarily bad.
One by one, their power weakens.
"Anyway, the Minister of Rites told His Majesty you were instrumental."
"Ah..."
That's why I was summoned.
We soon reached His Majesty's office. I entered alone.
I performed the proper courtesies.
"Raise your head."
"Your grace humbles me."
I looked up. Beside the Emperor stood not a eunuch, but someone else.
Hm?
A familiar face...
"I am Prince Se-gyeong."
"Ah!"
I hurriedly performed imperial clan rites.
"I was curious about you and asked His Majesty."
He continued.
"Thanks to you, I cleared my name. Without you... Ugh, dreadful to think."
The Emperor nodded.
"I agree."
He addressed me.
"Thanks to you, I didn't lose a precious man. My gratitude."
"I did nothing noteworthy, Your Majesty. Mere luck."
I downplayed my role as much as possible.
Why? One slip, and he might say, "Join the palace staff."
Plus, Master Bang's gaze on me was ominous.
"No need for such humility. You saved me and my kin—fact."
Prince Se-gyeong spoke firmly.
"I'll not forget this grace."
"......"
I'd merely repaid a past life's debt, yet he vowed to repay me.
I looked up at him.
His eyes were firmer than in my past life. This ordeal had taught him much.
Yes, such a man as my ally would be good.
I decided to think positively.
"You seem to have words for His Majesty, so I'll withdraw."
"Join me for tea later."
"Yes."
Prince Se-gyeong left first, apparently to express thanks.
"Heard from the Minister—you insisted on investigating first?"
"Yes."
I replied promptly to the Emperor.
"Why?"
"I... wanted certainty. A treason plot involving royalty would spill much blood. If mistaken, I wished to correct it."
I couldn't say I'd met him in my past life and knew he was innocent.
"Anyway, thanks."
His eyes softened warmly.
Eh?
Did he just smile? Really?
Was that real?
"Prince Se-gyeong, my cousin, supported a lonely me greatly."
"......"
"Thanks to you, I avoided a grave error. My thanks."
"No, Your Majesty. I merely..."
"I'll not forget this. Thus, I'll grant one request."
A chance to ask one favor of the Emperor!
Incredible opportunity.
"You may go."
"I take my leave."
I withdrew from the Emperor and walked the palace with waiting Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
"Ah, what of the Mingol Merchant Group?"
"Think they'd escape unscathed after slandering royalty?"
Thus, I cleanly settled my past life's grudge.
With some bonuses too.