The Empress asked with a faint smile.
“How did you know I attend imperial events in red.”
I was already prepared for this question.
“Just now, Consort Hyang told me.”
Consort Hyang tilted her head, puzzled, while the Empress looked intrigued.
“Consort Hyang told you just now?”
“Yes. I don’t mean she told me in words. Consort Hyang clearly gazed at the red silk for a moment.”
I continued.
“That means she liked it. But when she looked at Your Majesty, she said she would reject it. She didn’t say it was not to her taste, or that she disliked it. She said she would reject it. In other words, she’s in a situation where she cannot choose that red silk.”
“Ho.”
“Consort Hyang may have wished to show deference to Your Majesty by declining that silk. But I understood something from that. That, at least during major palace events, red may be a color reserved solely for Your Majesty.”
At my calm explanation, the Empress gave a gentle smile.
“You have a keen eye.”
“It’s merely a little trick of a merchant.”
Afterwards the Baekcheon Merchant Group had, in effect, self-destructed.
Perhaps they panicked after Eunhae succeeded on the same prompt, and during their second attempt, there were already signs of internal discord.
That proved true in their third chance, when raised voices echoed beyond mere disagreement.
Judging by the cold expressions of the Empress and the consorts, their score wouldn’t be favorable.
An Eunuch stepped forward.
“With that, the fourth-stage competition is concluded. Please return for now. The final competition will be announced within a few days.”
After the seven merchant groups departed, only those involved in judging remained at the venue.
Each of them gave their score to the merchant group that had selected silk for them.
The highest possible score was five points per turn, and with three turns per group, the total maximum was fifteen.
The Empress reviewed the written scores and gave a small nod.
As expected.
‘The results are already decided. The fifth-stage competition may be pointless.’
The gap was that wide.
Soon her gaze fell upon one merchant group’s name, and her expression turned cold.
She would never look kindly upon those who dared to sully a competition she presided over with filth.
And the Empress held grudges a little too long.
The Baekcheon Merchant Group was staying at an inn in Beijing. More precisely, they had rented out the entire place.
Because of that, those originally staying there had been driven out in a rush, forced to pack and flee as if chased. But Baekcheon paid it no mind.
As a merchant group under the Murim Alliance, the strong taking precedence was their principle.
The inn’s best room, of course, belonged to Namgoong Bo.
“Damn it.”
Bang.
He slammed the tea table hard.
The wooden table shattered into splinters.
Even he couldn’t deny that he’d ruined the fourth-stage competition.
He couldn’t place all the blame on the Supervisors who had accompanied him, either.
They were tightly bound by solid cords of influence to the senior members of the Murim Alliance.
If he tried to shift blame or bark orders as he normally would, he’d only alienate the seniors behind them.
If that happened, the position of next Merchant Lord of Baekcheon would slip from his hands.
Now was not the time.
He had to endure. For now.
But he still needed a target for his fury, and the Eunhae Merchant Group that had publicly humiliated Baekcheon became that target.
There was another reason, too.
“If not for the Eunhae Merchant Group, I’d still have a chance.”
He had ruined the fourth competition, but his scores in the others were solid.
He had to win this competition.
No matter what.
His eyes glinted sharply.
“Chui.”
“Yes.”
At his call, a man named Chui stepped into the room.
Seeing the wreckage of the tea table, he instantly understood Namgoong Bo’s mood was volatile.
He would have to tread carefully.
If not, he might end up like that table.
“You called.”
“What about the messages from the people we planted inside the palace?”
“Well…”
As Namgoong Bo’s face darkened, Chui quickly answered.
“We lost contact.”
“Lost contact?”
“Yes. We’re investigating the reason.”
“I see.”
Namgoong Bo realized the palace must have caught on and taken care of it.
If so…
“Chui.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“We’re going to force the Eunhae Merchant Group to withdraw.”
“Sir?”
“Just as I said. They get on my nerves.”
A few days passed after the fourth-stage competition.
That morning, after finishing my cultivation, I stepped out of my quarters.
Palgap bowed.
“Happy birthday.”
“Thanks.”
Today was my twentieth birthday.
Which meant it had been five years since I started this new life.
It hit me again how quickly time passed.
I adjusted my attire and made my way to the dining hall for breakfast. The Yeonjun Merchant Group’s family also ate breakfast together.
I heard Grandfather had made it a condition for Uncle-in-law when Aunt married him.
When I arrived, Uncle-in-law was already seated.
“Ah, did you rest well overnight?”
“Yes. And you, Uncle-in-law?”
“I slept well. And congratulations. Today is your twentieth birthday.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed and cupped my fists, and he smiled.
“I heard from your aunt. It’s a special day, but it’s a shame you can’t spend it with your family.”
“When working for the merchant group, there are things we have to accept. Besides, Uncle-in-law and Aunt are family to me too.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
I meant it.
I came to Beijing so often, they felt like real family now.
“Come to think of it, the group seems to be thriving lately.”
“Thanks to your help back then, things have gone well. We even opened a new trade route recently.”
“Congratulations.”
“It’s all thanks to you.”
“No, it’s because you’re capable, Uncle-in-law. That’s the only reason you achieved those results.”
He chuckled.
“You rascal, thanks even if you’re just being polite. By the way, only the final stage of the competition remains, right?”
An Eunuch had come yesterday to inform us that the fifth and final stage would be held tomorrow.
“Yes. Just one more to go.”
“You’ll do well to the end. I wish you success.”
“Thank you.”
Soon Aunt arrived, along with Cousin Seon-mi and Cousin Seon-il. Everyone sincerely congratulated me.
“Seo-ho.”
“Yes, Aunt?”
“Everyone’s busy, but it’s your twentieth birthday today. It wouldn’t feel right to let it pass, so I was thinking of holding a banquet this evening.”
“A banquet?”
“Yes. Though calling it a banquet makes it sound grand. Just a nice meal together and some fun.”
“But you’re all busy…”
“No matter how busy we are, we can make time for that.”
“That’s right, Cousin.”
Even my cousins agreed, so I couldn’t protest anymore.
“Thank you so much. I’ll look forward to it.”
.
.
.
I was taking a slow stroll through the rear garden of the Yeonjun Merchant Group.
Since the fourth-stage test hadn’t matched my expectations, I had no idea what the fifth might be.
So I tried to stay relaxed, but the bad feeling lingered.
I never liked my birthday.
Maybe it was because the day I died was my birthday.
Maybe I’ll feel better once I’ve taken my revenge on the Murim Alliance and Baekcheon.
But today felt especially worse.
Just then, a Yeonjun servant approached.
“Deputy Merchant Lord. A letter has arrived.”
“A letter?”
“Yes, some child asked me to deliver this.”
I tilted my head and reached out for it.
“Young Master, please wait. What if it’s poisoned?”
Palgap cut in and snatched the letter first.
“Hm?”
He wasn’t wrong, but if it had been, the servant wouldn’t be standing there unharmed.
Still, Palgap looked unusually serious, so I let it go and waited.
He checked the letter thoroughly, then handed it to me.
“You’re acting strange. You’re not usually like this.”
“The letter just feels ominous.”
“…”
At those words, my heart suddenly sank.
My thirty-ninth birthday, the day I died.
I remembered the letter Brother Jin-ho had sent me then.
He’d said he had set my birthday table and was waiting.
Palgap had taken that letter too, and examined it thoroughly.
When I asked why, he’d tilted his head and said,
“Well, it just felt a little ominous.”
If I hadn’t brushed him off that time, would things have turned out differently?
“Young Master, are you alright?”
“N, nothing.”
I shook my head quickly, then unfolded the letter.
.
.
.
Damn it.
[We’ve kidnapped Supervisor Geum-suk of the Eunhae Merchant Group. If you wish to save him, Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho must come alone with one thousand silver coins, in Taels, not draft notes, to the location below tonight. If you report this to the authorities or bring warriors, Supervisor Geum-suk and his escort will die.]
“Whew.”
I took a deep breath and calmed myself.
My mind cleared instantly.
In my previous life, I’d experienced this kind of kidnapping and threat more than once.
I wouldn’t get shaken by something like this.
I spoke to Palgap immediately.
“Find Supervisor Geum-suk’s whereabouts. Right now.”
“Yes. Understood.”
I thought I understood now.
Why I had felt uneasy all day.
Why Palgap had been unusually tense.
It was because of whoever sent this letter.
The Baekcheon Merchant Group.
My gut told me. And my reason reached the same conclusion.
No one else would target me like this.
If they were after money, they wouldn’t send a letter like this.
They told me to come alone, and to bring one thousand Silver Taels.
That alone made their objective clear.
They’d either ambush and abduct me when I was worn out from hauling the silver, or just kill me outright.
One thousand Silver Taels is heavy.
If I disappeared or was killed, the Eunhae Merchant Group would be forced to forfeit the competition.
You can’t participate without your representative.
Honestly, what a sloppy scheme.
I would never do something like this.
Of course, I wouldn’t resort to such cheap tricks in the first place.
When I returned to my quarters and was organizing my thoughts, Palgap came in to report.
“Supervisor Geum-suk went out early this morning.”
“With an escort?”
“One from the Eunpoong Division.”
“He normally doesn’t go out…”
“He went to buy your birthday present.”
“…Ah.”
That hit harder than expected.
He always had sharp words for me, so I hadn’t imagined he’d prepare a gift.
But that wasn’t the point now.
Supervisor Geum-suk was essential to our merchant group.
He supported Brother Jeong-ho as well.
More importantly, he was family of the Eunhae Merchant Group.
Of course I had to save him.
That didn’t mean I’d be dancing to their tune and bringing them silver.
There was no way I’d hand over money I earned with blood and sweat.
And with situations like this, the best method is always to catch them off guard.
I tapped my sleeve and called softly,
“Geumryeong, come out.”
“Kui.”
“Supervisor Geum-suk is being held somewhere. Can you find out where?”
Geumryeong hopped to the floor and explained with its tail.
“So you need something Supervisor Geum-suk used?”
“Kui.”
I immediately had them fetch one of his belongings.
“Kui. Kui. Kui.”
Then Geumryeong said something, and even without the tail, I understood what it meant.
“You want silver as payment?”
“Kui.”
Fair enough.
I handed over some silver, which Geumryeong gulped down happily.
Just then, Palgap returned with one of Supervisor Geum-suk’s items.
Sniff sniff.
Geumryeong sniffed it, spun three times, then darted west.
Fifteen minutes later, it returned and tugged on my pant leg.
“You want me to follow?”
“Kui.”
As I moved to follow the little one, I felt eyes watching.
All the better.
Time to use that to my advantage.
I sent a voice transmission to Palgap, Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am, and Escort Guard Lee Pil.
Act like I’m still inside my quarters.
Then, taking only Escort Guard Seo Wu and Escort Guard Jin Yu, I slipped out the window.
Following Geumryeong for about thirty minutes, we reached a rundown, quiet house.
It looked abandoned, with sections caved in.
Through a gap, I could see Supervisor Geum-suk and the Eunpoong warrior tied to a pillar.
They were alive. Thank goodness.
But Namgoong Bo, you bastard… You’ve really gone that far.
The ones guarding them were Unorthodox Sect thugs.
A scion of a merchant group representing the Murim Alliance had hired the Unorthodox Sect.
Even now, he was trying to keep his hands clean.
“Everyone, you remember the plan I laid out.”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s begin.”
You chose the wrong day.
You tried this on my birthday.
You’re all going to die.
–TL Notes–
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