Heir (6)
The winner of this year's Poetry Contest had been decided.
The winner's name was Mun Jin.
He was one of the five disciples who had commissioned the murder this time.
And the other four disciples had also achieved excellent results.
I silently offered my condolences to them.
It was obvious they'd soon be dragged before the Emperor and worked to the brink of death by exhaustion.
The Emperor was truly something else.
To use my plea for leniency to secure his own gains like that.
Of course, those gains weren't purely for personal benefit—they were selfish interests serving the public good.
After all, the more diligent and sharp minds in office, the better off the people would be.
Besides, they were firmly leashed now; they wouldn't dare harbor any disloyal thoughts.
The moment they did, it would mean execution.
"So, why are you refusing the position of heir?"
Lord Bang Hyeo-myeong visited me whenever he had a chance, trying to persuade me to become his successor.
I politely declined each time, and I was declining now as well.
"I'm grateful that you think of me as a potential heir, but no matter how I consider it, I believe that name isn't one I should take."
"So what is the reason?"
"I'm busy."
"Busy?"
"Yes. Too busy to polish and honor that name. I handle all sorts of tasks, but as you know, I'm a merchant."
I explained my work to him.
"Plus, there's the matter His Majesty the Emperor entrusted to me."
"Hm, true enough."
As a censor-inspector, I was constantly assigned various duties.
"In such circumstances, how could I possibly find more time? Especially since I only have one body..."
"You're busier than I thought."
"Yes."
I cautiously asked him.
"Then why not pass that name to your own children?"
"Ah... those kids?"
Lord Bang Hyeo-myeong explained nonchalantly.
"First off, they're not the right material."
"They seemed quite clever when I met them before."
"Not as much as you."
"Still, it would look better if your descendants inherited it."
"I do have affection for my blood kin, so I asked them directly once. Whether they'd take my name. They said no."
"Why not?"
"Too burdensome."
"..."
I was dumbfounded.
"Then why do you think it wouldn't burden me?"
"Because you're shameless."
It went beyond dumbfounding to outright absurdity.
At that moment, Geum-ryeong in my sleeve sent a sound transmission.
Kuui!
Geum-ryeong. Be quiet.
I stroked Geum-ryeong's back, and it shivered in response.
Good, now it's quiet.
"It's burdensome for me too."
"Not burdensome— you're just lazy."
Cough!
How did he know?
"Anyway, I believe you won't tarnish my name even if you inherit it."
"No."
I shook my head.
"If I take that name, I'll use it freely until it's worn out. After all, I'm quite shameless, aren't I?"
"You hold grudges well."
"Didn't you know?"
"No, I know very well. But I've never seen anyone who holds grudges actually stab someone in the back."
True enough.
Anyone with emotions would hold grudges.
But to claim they had none themselves?
That was a lie.
"I have nothing to say to that. What if I keep refusing?"
"..."
Lord Bang hesitated, looking troubled.
And understandably so—he couldn't resort to kidnapping, confinement, or threats with me.
"No way, right?"
"There is one."
"Then why hesitate?"
Lord Bang let out a light sigh and said,
"I'll earnestly petition His Majesty the Emperor that your exceptional abilities as branch leader mean it's a loss to the nation to leave you as a mere merchant."
"..."
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
Lord Bang was the Minister of Justice and a favorite of the Emperor.
If he earnestly petitioned, the Emperor would feign reluctance but grant it, issuing an edict to me.
"I hesitated because using that method would make you resent me."
You know me well.
"Truth be told, I want you as my heir because no one else seems capable of using it as well as you. Even the finest blade rusts if left in a closet. A great blade must be wielded."
"..."
"So use the name of my heir freely. I won't complain—in fact, it's exactly what I want!"
"..."
He said it so earnestly that I couldn't refuse anymore.
And honestly, Lord Bang Hyeo-myeong's prestige was incredibly useful.
Yuksikgong needs to be a bit more famous.
"Understood."
"With my name, Yuksikgong, no doors will be closed to you..."
"I said yes. I'll become your heir."
"What? Really?"
"Yes. Really."
"Hahaha! Thank you!"
Is this really cause for such gratitude?
"Anyone born into this world ought to leave a legacy! And the best way is to pass it to a successor who carries it on."
Even Lord Bang cared about such things.
"Expect great things! I'll make you a splendid token!"
"Do I need a token too?"
"What nonsense! Without a proper identity plaque, who would believe you're my heir just on words?"
"But people won't know that plaque designates the heir."
"Don't worry. I'll spread it to every place connected to the Ministry of Justice."
"..."
Thorough, as expected.
Almost every place where the name Yuksikgong mattered was tied to the ministry anyway.
In other words, my name would spread across the empire...
This is fine, right?
"Let me see... What shape would look splendid?"
He seemed quite excited now that I'd agreed to be his heir.
"I'll take my leave."
"Yes, safe travels."
After seeing Lord Bang off, I returned to the Beijing branch. Palgap looked at me with pity.
"Just how many of those do you have now?"
"No idea. I won't count."
With the Poetry Contest over, I still hadn't met with Seo-hyang Sojeo or the Guizhou Provincial Governor since our first encounter.
They were leaving tomorrow.
Sigh, this won't do.
I need to make a way.
After a moment's thought, a clever idea struck me.
Dong Hwi, the Guizhou Provincial Governor, gazed at the sky.
A sky with the moon hanging in it.
Tomorrow, he would return to Guizhou.
As the provincial governor, he couldn't stay away too long.
With the liquor tasting and Poetry Contest concluded, he had no more reason to remain in Beijing.
He looked outside and sighed.
"Sigh, that brat..."
He wanted to see his daughter's face at least once more before leaving for Guizhou, but there was an obstacle.
His eldest son, Dong Hyeok-su.
Avoiding his son's eyes had unintentionally kept him from meeting her until now.
Dong Hyeok-su seemed to sense something and followed him whenever he stepped out.
He looked hot-tempered, but he was sharper than expected, so caution was needed.
He couldn't tell him, "Your little sister is actually alive."
Not because he distrusted his son, but because his sons adored their sister so much that enemies might discover the truth if they knew.
Then it happened.
"My lord. A letter has arrived."
With those words, the door opened, and a servant handed him the letter.
"Yes. It's from Branch Leader Eun Seo-ho."
Dong Hwi quickly took and opened the letter. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Tell the one who brought this letter that I agree."
"Yes, understood."
"And prepare to go out."
"Yes."
A short while later.
As Dong Hwi was about to leave the mansion, Dong Hyeok-su followed.
"Where are you going?"
"Planning to escort me again today?"
"Of course."
"I don't need it."
"Don't coldly reject this son's filial piety."
"..."
"Sigh, fine."
Dong Hwi shook his head and left the mansion, with Dong Hyeok-su following.
And soon after.
"...!"
Dong Hyeok-su couldn't hide his bewilderment.
"F-F-Father. What is this place?"
"What else? Can't you tell by looking?"
"..."
The ornate building before them bore a sign: Chunmong Pavilion.
Yes. They had come to a pleasure house.
"Why come to a pleasure house?"
"Why? Can't I?"
"Mother would be sad if she knew."
"You're misunderstanding. This place is famous not just for courtesans, but for its exquisite food."
"Pardon?"
"Let's go."
They headed to a private annex of Chunmong Pavilion.
A man was waiting for them there.
"Welcome."
"Kept you waiting long?"
"Not at all."
Seeing Jin Yeong, Dong Hyeok-su quickly cupped his fists in greeting.
"Greetings, Jin Yeong Daehyeop. I didn't know this gathering was to meet you."
"It was meant to be discreet, so I asked not to inform."
"I see."
Dong Hyeok-su misunderstood, thinking the Emperor had arranged this secret meeting.
After all, a Gold Guard daehyeop's "secret gathering" could only mean that.
"So keep this gathering confidential."
"Of course."
"Still, I'm glad to see you too. Guess we need one more seat."
Jin Yeong pulled the bell cord to summon a server and arranged an extra seat.
"Sorry for the trouble."
"No trouble. Adding one more is no issue."
Jin Yeong waved off Dong Hyeok-su's apology and offered them seats.
They sipped tea while chatting idly.
Hm?
But Dong Hyeok-su felt something off.
Drowsiness kept washing over him, his eyes growing heavy.
And finally.
Thud!
He face-planted onto the table and fell asleep.
Snore...
Jin Yeong grinned at the sight.
You can come out now.
With those words, Eun Seo-ho revealed himself.
Chunmong Pavilion's annex had one special feature.
A hidden wall cabinet.
Big enough for two or three people, it served various purposes.
Knowing this, I had hidden inside with Seo-hyang Sojeo, while Jin Yeong Daehyeop drugged Dong Hyeok-su Gongja with sleep-laced tea and put him out cold.
I cupped my fists to him in thanks.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Daehyeop."
"Thanks to you, I didn't lose face before His Majesty. Can't I help with this much?"
"Hahaha."
"Besides, you've helped me more than once or twice."
"As I said before, this is a secret."
"No need to worry."
With that, Jin Yeong Daehyeop patted my shoulder and left the annex.
Now to achieve the goal of bringing the Guizhou Provincial Governor here.
I spoke toward the back wall cabinet.
"Come out."
Soon, Seo-hyang Sojeo emerged in male disguise.
The Provincial Governor and Seo-hyang Sojeo silently clasped hands.
How to describe that tenderness?
After gazing at each other for a long while, the Governor turned to me.
"Thank you so much for going to such lengths."
"No need for thanks. If anything, I'm the one who should apologize."
I continued.
"Next time, we'll visit Guizhou ourselves."
"I'd be grateful. But my sons are the problem."
"I'll handle that. For now, please have a meal."
And so, the Guizhou Provincial Governor and Seo-hyang Sojeo sat across from each other and dined.
A truly long-overdue father-daughter meal.
I left the annex, closed the door, and looked up at the sky.
I felt a swell of satisfaction.
.
.
.
.
As late March arrived, the air of spring began to spread.
And thanks to steady practice, my Daewol Kingdom speech had reached a level where basic communication was possible.
Yong-min Musa was amazed.
"Incredibly fast. Are you a genius?"
I chuckled.
"You're picking up imperial tongue quite quickly yourself, Yong-min Musa."
"I've been diligent."
He lived each day with great effort.
His example spurred me on too.
I looked at the palanquin prepared in one corner of the Beijing branch.
There, they were making liquor bottles for export to Daewol Kingdom, Mareo Merchant Country, and other foreign lands.
Senior Leader Go and the Mu-dong Merchant Group's branch leader had teamed up enthusiastically, producing splendid porcelain bottles.
Good call entrusting it to Senior Leader Go.
It felt like a favorable wind was blowing from somewhere.
"Branch Leader."
"Yes?"
Then Seo-hyang Sojeo called from behind.
Smiling, she politely thanked me.
"Thank you so much."
For arranging her intimate meal with the Guizhou Provincial Governor.
"Did you enjoy it?"
"Yes, very much."
"Glad to hear it."
"I never even dreamed I'd get to dine with Father."
"Next time, we'll make it a full family gathering."
"Thank you."
Her smile made my heart flutter.
"Branch Leader."
"Yes."
"Time to work now. You have a pile of documents waiting for approval."
"..."
But her next words sank my spirits again.
She's so firm about work.
About an hour or two into work?
Suddenly, a familiar aura approached.
Huh? Why is this aura here... What's going on?
Moments later, the door burst open, and Palgap entered.
"Young master! A guest has arrived!"