Hooked a Big One (19)
The moment I stepped into the reception room of the imperial palace, a heavy silence pressed down on me. The air felt thick enough to cut with a knife. Even though only a few people were present, the atmosphere was so stifling it made my skin crawl.
Empress Dowager He sat at the head of the table, radiating an aura that could make even the boldest man shrink back. Her eyes, sharp as daggers, scanned me from head to toe without a hint of warmth. Beside her stood Consort Gwan, her expression as cold and rigid as a statue carved from ice. And then there was General Jo, the one who had summoned me here, watching me with a gaze that seemed to pierce straight through my soul.
I offered a perfectly measured bow, neither too deep nor too shallow, exactly as protocol demanded.
“This humble subject, Jin Hwan, greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, Her Highness the Consort, and the General.”
My voice came out steady, but inside, my thoughts were racing like wildfire.
Shit. This is bad. Really bad.
The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. One wrong word, one misplaced glance, and I could end up as fertilizer for the palace gardens before the day was out. Especially with Consort Gwan here. That woman had every reason to want me dead after what I’d done to her precious daughter.
Empress Dowager He was the first to speak. Her voice carried the weight of decades spent ruling from the shadows.
“So you are the one they call the Heavenly Demon’s Disciple. I’ve heard the rumors. They say you possess strange powers that can bend people’s wills.”
Her words hung in the air like a blade poised to strike. I kept my expression carefully neutral, betraying nothing.
“Those are merely exaggerated tales spread by the ignorant, Your Majesty. This subject possesses no such mystical abilities. I am but a humble strategist who relies on wits and careful planning.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. It wasn’t a kind smile.
“Is that so? Then explain to me why my granddaughter, who was once pure and virtuous as fresh snow, has suddenly become so... enthralled with you. They say she can barely eat or sleep without your name on her lips.”
I felt cold sweat trickle down my back. This was the moment I’d been dreading. The old fox had gone straight for the throat.
Before I could formulate a response, Consort Gwan stepped forward. Her eyes burned with barely contained fury.
“You dare lay your filthy hands on my daughter? Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Yeonhui was meant for greater things. She was supposed to become the crown princess, to stand at the pinnacle of this empire. And now she’s reduced to some common whore who spreads her legs for a man like you!”
Her voice cracked with raw emotion. For a brief second, I almost felt a twinge of guilt. Almost.
But I quickly pushed it down. Guilt was a luxury I couldn’t afford right now.
I met her gaze without flinching.
“Your Highness, I understand your anger. But I must respectfully disagree with your characterization. Lady Yeonhui came to me of her own free will. She chose this path. And as for becoming crown princess... well, that position seems to have already been claimed by another, has it not?”
The jab hit its mark. Consort Gwan’s face twisted with rage, but before she could explode, Empress Dowager He raised a hand to silence her.
“Enough. We did not bring you here to exchange petty insults. General Jo, explain the situation.”
General Jo stepped forward, her armor clinking softly. Even in this formal setting, she carried herself like a warrior ready for battle. Her eyes met mine for a moment, and I saw something flicker in them. Was that... respect?
“The situation in the northern provinces has grown dire. The Yellow Turbans have grown bolder than ever. Their so-called Holy Mother has united the rebel forces under a single banner. Intelligence reports suggest they are preparing for a major offensive within the next three months.”
She paused, letting the gravity of her words sink in.
“The imperial army is stretched thin. Many of our best commanders are occupied with internal power struggles. That is why Her Majesty has decided to... entrust you with a special mission.”
A special mission? From the Empress Dowager herself?
This smelled like a trap. A very elaborate, very dangerous trap.
I kept my voice calm and measured.
“This subject is honored by Your Majesty’s trust. However, I am but a mere civilian with no official rank or position. Would it not be more appropriate to assign this task to a seasoned general?”
Empress Dowager He let out a soft chuckle. The sound sent chills down my spine.
“Do not play coy with me, boy. We both know you are far more than you appear. The way you handled the situation in Luoyang... it was masterful. Turning Cao Cao and Liu Bei into your willing pawns with nothing but words and a few clever tricks. Impressive. Truly impressive.”
She leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming with dangerous intelligence.
“I have no use for fools who wave swords and shout battle cries. What I need is someone who can win wars before they even begin. Someone who understands that the true battlefield is the human heart.”
Her gaze bored into me, as if she could see straight through my skull and into the darkest corners of my mind.
“You will go to the northern provinces. You will infiltrate the Yellow Turban leadership. And you will bring me the head of their Holy Mother. Succeed, and I shall grant you a position befitting your talents. Fail... well, let us hope it does not come to that.”
The room fell deathly silent. Even Consort Gwan seemed momentarily stunned by the audacity of the order.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing through a thousand possible scenarios.
Infiltrate the Yellow Turbans? That was practically a suicide mission. Those fanatics were known for their brutal methods of dealing with spies. And their leader, the so-called Holy Mother... rumors said she possessed genuine supernatural powers. Mind control. Illusions. The kind of abilities that made my own system look like child’s play.
But refusing wasn’t really an option. Not when the Empress Dowager herself had given the command. The only way out was to accept and find some way to turn this suicide mission to my advantage.
I bowed deeply, pressing my forehead to the cold marble floor.
“This subject understands. I shall depart for the northern provinces at once and fulfill Your Majesty’s command. The Holy Mother’s head will be delivered to you before the first snow falls.”
When I raised my head again, I saw a flicker of satisfaction in Empress Dowager He’s eyes. She knew exactly what kind of monster she was sending into the wolves’ den. And she was counting on that monster to survive and deliver results.
As I was dismissed from the audience chamber, General Jo fell into step beside me. Her voice was low enough that only I could hear.
“You’re either the bravest man I’ve ever met or the stupidest. Perhaps both. The Holy Mother is no ordinary foe. They say she can see into a man’s soul and twist it to her liking. Be careful, Jin Hwan. If you die out there, Yeonhui will never forgive me for sending you.”
I offered her a wry smile.
“Then I suppose I’d better not die. I still have far too many women to conquer and too many enemies to crush. Dying now would be terribly inconvenient.”
General Jo shook her head, but I caught the ghost of a smile on her usually stern face.
“You really are something else. Just... come back alive. That’s all I ask.”
As I left the imperial palace, the weight of my new mission settled heavily on my shoulders. The Yellow Turbans. The Holy Mother. A suicide mission handed down by the most powerful woman in the empire.
But strangely enough, I felt a thrill of excitement rather than fear.
This is it. This is the real beginning.
The game of thrones in this chaotic world was only just starting. And I, Jin Hwan, would be the one to rewrite its rules.
With the system’s power flowing through my veins and an ever-growing harem of powerful women at my side, I would bend this fractured empire to my will.
Starting with the north.
Main Quest: The Holy Mother’s Head
Objective: Infiltrate the Yellow Turban Rebellion and assassinate their leader, the Holy Mother.
Reward: Imperial recognition, new title, significant system upgrade, permanent alliance with Empress Dowager He’s faction.
Failure: Death. Or worse.
Time Limit: Three months.
I smirked as the system window faded from my vision.
Three months to topple a rebellion that had lasted for years.
Bring it on.
The real hunt was about to begin.