Heir (5)
I caught my breath and continued.
“The most crucial evidence in this case was the poem written on the wall. With the cooperation of Poet Song Lok, I selected poets who had written works containing habits similar to those revealed in that poem.”
“Similar habits?”
I relayed Poet Song Lok’s explanation to the Emperor exactly as I had heard it.
“But there was a problem. Among the participants in the preliminaries of this poetry contest, five people had similar habits.”
“Five people?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I nodded.
“That would mean the culprit is among them. But you said the man you captured, Nangong I-in, had lost his eyesight?”
“That’s correct. So we have to identify the culprit based solely on his testimony and hearing, which isn’t easy.”
The Emperor clicked his tongue at my words.
“Elder Nangong Geonji, why couldn’t that fool hold his temper and ruin everything like this……”
I suppressed a bitter smile and continued.
“But even without relying on that, I believe we can identify the culprit.”
“How?”
“Now comes the main point.”
I paused briefly. Everyone looked like they were dying of curiosity.
“One day, in a certain village, there was a renowned scholar and poet. But to Na Jeong-su, he was delicious prey. The higher his fame, the more Na Jeong-su’s name would spread if he tore down his poems.”
I continued the explanation.
“But he couldn’t find an opportunity easily. The scholar was that skilled. Still, he was human, and humans make mistakes eventually.”
I took a moment to breathe and resumed.
“Naturally, Na Jeong-su seized the chance, wrote a critical poem pointing out the mistake, and posted it on the wall. The scholar, proud as his skill, chose to take his own life to wash away the dishonor.”
My explanation ended, but the Emperor still tilted his head.
“I know that story. Isn’t that how Na Jeong-su built his infamous reputation?”
“But here’s the thing.”
I chuckled softly.
“The scholar, with his noble character, had also devoted himself to nurturing his students.”
“Students……?”
“Yes.”
Only then did the Emperor’s face light up in realization as he slapped his knee.
“Aha! That’s it!”
“Yes. Those disciples, enraged by their master’s sullied honor and death, resolved to seek revenge.”
“But that alone doesn’t confirm them as culprits, does it?”
I nodded at Jin Yeong Daehyeop’s words.
“Of course, it’s still just my speculation. But…… there was something that kept bothering me about the poem on the wall.”
“What was it?”
I recited that poem from memory. I’d seen it so many times, I knew it by heart.
"Your poem tears the earth
And even rends the heavens asunder.
One who criticizes others
Must consider that they too
Will be criticized—
If by that criticism you kill another,
Did you truly not anticipate
That you yourself must prepare for death?
Since you tore another's heart to shreds,
You too shall be torn asunder.”
“Yes, that poem.”
“This poem consists of ten lines.”
Jin Yeong Daehyeop counted on his fingers and nodded.
“You’re right.”
“There is an original poem.”
I pulled a paper with the poem from my bosom and handed it over.
Jin Yeong Daehyeop took it, read it, and passed it to the Emperor.
The Emperor read it as well.
"Your poem tears the earth
And even rends the heavens asunder.
One who criticizes others
Must consider that they too will be criticized.
If by that criticism you kill another,
Did you truly not anticipate that you yourself must prepare for death?
Since you tore another's heart to shreds,
You too shall be torn asunder.”
After the Emperor finished reciting, I asked calmly.
“Comparing the two, doesn’t something feel off?”
“What?”
“The content is the same, but the original has eight lines, while the wall poem has ten.”
“Indeed. The fourth and fifth lines, and the seventh and eighth, were split.”
“Exactly. They did this so that each of the five could split and write two lines.”
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed at my words.
“What?”
“They used crushed tree root instead of a brush to avoid detection. But upon close inspection, the stroke thickness varies subtly.”
I’d felt an odd dissonance from the first time I saw that poem.
And recently, I’d realized what it was.
No matter how much you crush a twig to mimic a brush and disguise the handwriting, one thing is inevitable.
The pressure of the writer’s strokes.
“The five of them divided one poem and wrote it on the wall. That’s proof they’re all culprits in this critic murder.”
“……”
Silence fell for a moment.
“Hahaha!”
The Emperor’s hearty laughter broke it.
“To solve it like this! Impressive!”
“It’s merely my speculation, Your Majesty.”
“If it were just speculation, you wouldn’t ask me to show them mercy. The mercy you mentioned at the start was for those disciples.”
“As expected, you’re an outstanding talent.”
“I am deeply grateful for your grace.”
Then why did cold sweat trickle down my back whenever the Emperor called me an outstanding talent?
I bowed politely and spoke.
“One more thing. It turns out the poem on the wall was a final poem left by the deceased master.”
“Is that so!”
I continued.
“At first, I thought someone else composed it, but no. The similar habits in that poem and theirs come from studying under the same master. Children learning poetry from a young age naturally absorb their teacher’s influence, don’t they?”
Thus, it became evidence linking the five poets to the dead scholar.
“Though murder is never justified, I don’t believe there’s an absolute standard here.”
“No absolute standard?”
“Yes. For example, isn’t one who executes a villain called a hero? And Poet Na Jeong-su tore apart many hearts—he was a villain.”
“……Hmm, true.”
“So I earnestly request you show them mercy.”
……
The next day.
The five poets were summoned to the Judicial Office. Jin Yeong Daehyeop and I met them directly.
“Why have you called us here?”
The one who asked me in a trembling voice was Jo Saeng.
No matter how they feigned composure, did they think I couldn’t tell they were tense?
“You know better than I why I called you.”
At my words, one sighed.
“As expected…… We should’ve handled it ourselves instead of hiring an assassin. He must’ve confessed everything.”
He showed no regret for the deed.
I shook my head.
“Sorry, but no.”
“No?”
“Yes. We did capture the assassin alive, but he’s lost his sight due to certain circumstances, so his testimony is unreliable.”
“Th-then how?”
The five glared at each other.
I waved my hand and explained.
“Ah, no betrayer either.”
“Then how?”
“The poem on the wall—that was the evidence.”
“What?”
I explained it all to them.
After hearing, they muttered in dazed expressions.
“To think that tripped us up……”
“We never considered it.”
I told them.
“I heard it was your late master’s final poem.”
“Yes.”
“To me, it seems your master thought of you disciples until the end.”
“What do you mean?”
“That final poem told me you were the culprits. So your hearts wouldn’t rot.”
Jin Yeong Daehyeop, who’d been listening quietly, spoke.
“Young Master Eun Seo-ho is right. As a warrior, I’ve killed countless people. Even if they were the worst villains, taking a life never sits well with the heart.”
He continued.
“At first, you don’t realize. But guilt binds you, eventually fraying your mind. That’s why some martial artists, unable to bear the guilt of killing, choose extreme paths.”
I added.
“Moreover, it was a secret killing. The guilt must be immense. But now it’s out. You must feel relieved.”
“……”
One spoke heavily.
“Sigh…… Master begged us not to seek revenge, but we couldn’t endure without it.”
I nodded quietly.
I understood their hearts.
“So what punishment awaits us? We committed murder—death penalty, I suppose.”
“Who knows?”
I smiled.
“I don’t know either. So go study poetry diligently.”
“What?”
They looked baffled, but I changed the subject without explaining further.
“His Majesty has decreed your participation in the final poetry contest.”
……
A few days later.
The poetry contest finals.
The third round, only for poets who advanced from the second.
Here the winner would be decided, so the Emperor appeared personally to encourage them.
“Reading your poems left me deeply satisfied. But I also have expectations. I believe you haven’t reached your limits yet.”
“……”
“I hope you squeeze every last thought from your minds. Ponder deeply, again and again. Then, at the end, glorious honor awaits!”
“Long live the Emperor!”
“Long live!”
“Long live!”
The gathered crowd chanted three times and paid profound respects.
The Emperor should have stepped down, but he continued.
“Using this occasion, I wish to reveal one truth to you all.”
All eyes focused on him.
“Recently, a participant who came to Beijing for this poetry contest was murdered inside the inner palace.”
“……!”
Everyone stared at the Emperor with wide eyes.
It was the scandal that had rocked Beijing, so no one present was unaware.
But no one expected the Emperor to mention it publicly here.
“The victim’s name was Na Jeong-su.”
“……”
“He was a scourge on this empire.”
“……!”
Everyone was shocked again.
They all thought Na Jeong-su was scum, but never dreamed the Emperor would say it openly.
“As Emperor, I regret not dealing with such a man sooner. I apologize to you all.”
Everyone prostrated and cried out.
“We are unworthy! Retract those words!”
“Retract them!”
The Emperor gazed at them briefly before speaking.
“Recently, I heard a most intriguing story.”
From his mouth flowed a concise summary of what I’d reported.
“I pondered what punishment to give those five disciples.”
I looked at the dead scholar’s disciples as I listened.
Recently summoned, they were tense.
“I’ve decided on conditional punishment.”
The Emperor looked toward the five and continued.
“If they do not lose honor, neither shall I punish them. But if they lose honor, I will have their heads.”
That was the Emperor’s response to my plea for mercy.
The five disciples just blinked. They couldn’t comprehend yet.
But they’d soon realize.
The only way to save their lives was to uphold honor.
And that the Emperor had shown them immense mercy.
By the way…… Knowing the Emperor, he wouldn’t have said that just to spare them.
There must be another meaning.
“I hope all gathered here aspire to achieve great fame and office. And now, the final round of the poetry contest begins.”
Achieve great fame and office.
I couldn’t help but smile at the words.
Of course.
……
The poetry contest finals began.
After watching the start, I headed straight to the Ministry of Justice.
I needed to report this matter to the Minister of Justice.
“Hahaha!”
Bang Daein, the Minister, laughed upon seeing me.
“I heard you shone brilliantly this time.”
“I heard too—that you were busy, so you entrusted it to me. What could I do? I just scurried about to uncover the truth.”
Bang Daein chuckled at my words.
“Your words have bite.”
“……”
“From this case, I’ve realized something. You’re qualified, indeed.”
“Qualified? For what, sir?”
“To be my successor.”
He grinned.
“I, Bang Hyeo-myeong, name you my successor.”
At that, I squeezed my eyes shut.