The road from Henan to Beijing wasn’t exactly what you’d call pleasant.
There was an official route, but it required crossing rivers and climbing mountains.
And yes, the cold was also a problem.
But for me, the cold didn’t matter much. It was the same for the other warriors too.
As for Palgap… he was wearing the Heshibi I’d given him around his neck.
I sent a letter to my father through Geumryeong, explaining that unforeseen circumstances were taking me to Beijing.
In response, Father said he’d send a messenger pigeon to Aunt, letting her know I’d be visiting, and told me to travel safely.
He also instructed me to return with Squad Leader Myeong, who had accompanied me.
He must still be concerned about my safety.
“It’s a relief there’s no snow. The road gets slippery when it snows.”
At Squad Leader Myeong’s words, I nodded.
“That’s true. Still, it feels like there’s been too little snow.”
“Hmm, now that you mention it… You’re right. Usually, we should’ve had at least a couple big snowfalls by now…”
To me, the lack of snow looked like a sign of an impending poor harvest.
Especially since the farming fields had been devastated by what happened earlier this spring.
We arrived in Beijing safely.
“Welcome. Everything went well, I trust?”
“Yes. Have you been well, Aunt?”
“Of course.”
Aunt looked us over briefly and said,
“Your quarters are prepared. You must’ve had a hard journey in this cold. Go rest.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
It definitely felt colder the further north we came.
While I and the escort guards were fine, Squad Leader Myeong had struggled a bit.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
At my words, Squad Leader Myeong laughed and said,
“It’s nothing. If I shivered at a little cold, External Chief Administrator Go would rain hellfire on me. Hahaha.”
Right, if it’s Chief Administrator Go, then definitely…
“Go ahead and rest.”
“Yes, sir.”
Palgap, the escort guards, and I entered the inner quarters.
Only attendants, maids, and escort guards who weren’t family were allowed into the inner quarters.
“Ugh, I’m tired.”
“I’ll prepare a bath.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
With Palgap’s help, I bathed and lay down on the bed.
.
.
.
By the time I opened my eyes, it was already evening.
I must’ve fallen asleep from exhaustion.
“You’re awake?”
“Yeah. Is it night already?”
“Yes, it’s just about dinner time. I was about to wake you for your meal.”
“I really do have great timing.”
“Yes, yes.”
Palgap responded half-heartedly and urged me on.
“You have to hurry. They’re waiting in the dining room.”
“Ah! R-Right.”
Scratching my cheek, I headed for the dining room. Everyone was already seated, waiting for me.
Uncle wasn’t present—probably busy with work.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“No need to apologize. You must’ve been really tired. I shouldn’t have let them wake you.”
“No, I’d just woken up anyway.”
I quickly took my seat and started eating.
I hadn’t felt particularly hungry, but once I took a bite, my appetite kicked in.
“Ah, Seo-ho.”
“Yes, Aunt?”
“There’s happy news. Seon-mi’s marriage has been decided.”
Seon-mi had just turned eighteen a short while ago.
She blushed and lowered her head.
“That’s wonderful news. Who’s the groom?”
“The third son of Minister of Rites Yuan (元).”
Thankfully, it wasn’t different from my previous life.
Back then too, Seon-mi had married the third son of Minister Yuan.
If I recall correctly…
“He’s currently in the Hanlin Academy, ranked Sixth in the Ministry, holding the position of Editorial Assistant. He’s also my senior.”
Seon-il added.
Ah, I remembered now.
He had come with Cousin Seon-il to Aunt’s house, saw Seon-mi, and immediately fell for her—then sent a matchmaker soon after.
So he’d be leaving Beijing soon.
He’d receive an appointment as a Zhizhou (知州) within a year.
Zhizhou was a Fifth-rank local magistrate.
Although local appointments were sometimes seen as demotions, this was the Emperor’s way of testing officials and giving them field experience.
To see whether they could manage real-world duties and be trusted with higher responsibilities.
The problem was… a famine was coming soon.
Even so, Seon-mi’s husband would manage the province well and be promoted, though he wouldn’t reach the top tier of the bureaucracy.
I offered Seon-mi my congratulations.
“Congratulations. You’ll live happily, I’m sure.”
“Thank you, Cousin.”
After dinner, I took care of some personal matters, then headed to Cousin Seon-il’s quarters.
He’d asked to speak with me.
“Cousin, I’m here.”
“Come in.”
I stepped into his room.
The fact that he’d called me here alone meant he had something to discuss in private.
“Sit down.”
“Yes.”
Once I sat, he personally poured me tea.
“Thank you.”
As we sipped tea, we chatted about various things. How Father and my brothers were doing, how adorable Geon-hyeok and Bo-yeon were, and so on.
After a pause, Cousin Seon-il closed his eyes.
He was about to get to the point.
“Hmm, the reason I called you… I’m sure you’ve guessed. It’s about Seon-mi’s marriage.”
I quietly listened.
“To be honest, there’s been some talk about our family from her in-laws’ side.”
“As expected.”
They were a family of hereditary officials. Families like that often looked down on merchants.
Even though they’d be in trouble without merchants.
Seon-mi had been able to marry into that family only because he was the third son.
So the rumors had already begun even before the wedding.
“Seon-mi was happy about the match, so we decided to go ahead, but… as her older brother, I can’t help but worry.”
“Of course. There’ll be gossip one way or another.”
Her in-laws would probably subtly belittle or isolate her.
Saying she wasn’t on their level.
How do I know?
Because in my past life, that’s exactly what happened.
Seon-mi acted like it didn’t bother her, but I knew it must’ve hurt.
“So I wanted to ask you if there’s a way to help her save face.”
Cousin Seon-il continued.
“I know my limits. I only ever studied books, so I’m not clever when it comes to worldly matters. I can’t come up with schemes like you do. That’s why I’m asking for your help.”
He cupped his fists and bowed to me.
“Please lend me your wisdom.”
I looked at him.
This side of him felt unfamiliar.
In my past life, by this point, he’d fallen into despair and turned cynical.
He’d been cold about Seon-mi’s marriage, and about her situation.
But… I doubt his heart was ever truly cold.
He was probably just exhausted—beaten down by his situation and a world that wouldn’t help him.
But now he wasn’t.
Now he was bowing his head to ask me for help, for Seon-mi’s sake.
How could I possibly refuse?
“I understand. I’ll come up with a good idea.”
“Thank you.”
Only then did Cousin Seon-il smile, as if finally at ease.
That smile looked genuinely warm.
Come to think of it, Cousin Seon-il was around the age where he should be getting married. Has he not given it any thought?
.
.
.
The next morning,
I met with someone from the Imperial Palace.
As always, it was Warrior Jin Yeong from the Embroidered Guard.
We’ve been seeing each other quite a bit lately.
“It’s been a while.”
“That’s true. Come to think of it, you once came to me for advice. It must’ve been about this matter, then.”
“It was. Your advice helped me greatly.”
“I’m pleased to hear that I was of use.”
I entered the palace with Warrior Jin Yeong, and before long, I was granted an audience with the Emperor.
“Your humble subject, Eun Seo-ho, greets the Emperor, ruler of all under heaven. Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years.”
“You may rise.”
“Your grace is boundless.”
“You’ve done well once again.”
“I only seek to repay Your Majesty’s boundless favor—”
I began answering formally, but the Emperor chuckled and cut me off.
“Be honest. You were angry too, weren’t you?”
“…I can’t deny it.”
“Exactly. I mean, what kind of bastard acts like that?”
The Emperor’s coarse language made a eunuch step forward and object.
“Your Majesty, please maintain your dignity.”
“There are no ministers watching. What’s the point?”
Grumbling, the Emperor turned to me and asked,
“By the way, you’re the one who stripped that bastard of everything, aren’t you?”
As expected, you can’t fool the Emperor.
Still, openly saying “Yes, I did it!” here would be unwise.
“It wasn’t I, Your Majesty. It was the Heavens that made it so.”
“Heavens, huh…”
The Emperor stared at me, then burst out laughing.
“Hahaha, alright. I’ll let that slide. You really stuck it to the Murim Alliance too. I like it.”
Of course. He’d seen through everything.
“Lately, those Murim Alliance rats keep trying to worm their way into the palace. It’s been bothering me.”
There was clear displeasure on the Emperor’s face.
For something as simple as placing spies in the palace, his reaction felt overly strong.
Should I probe a little?
“They’ve been troubling Your Majesty a great deal, I presume?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The Emperor nodded, clearly displeased.
“It feels like they’re aiming for something more.”
“If it concerns you that much, why not just wipe them out?”
“I’d like to, believe me. But…”
The Emperor let out a sigh.
“You know well that many among the martial world are called heroes. Thanks to them, the common people often receive help.”
That much was true.
Those who stood by the weak and fought the wicked were, in the Empire’s eyes, still a necessity.
“If I strike while they still see the Murim Alliance as just, things could get unnecessarily messy.”
So he means that if public sentiment shifts and they no longer see the Murim Alliance as righteous, things could change.
“Besides, the Murim Alliance isn’t weak. If I go to war with them, I’ll have to be ready to lose people I hold dear. I’m not eager to do that right now.”
That was an unexpectedly honest answer for the Emperor.
“Anyway, I’ve decided to execute that man, Ma Jeong, publicly. His crimes were that heinous. As for his nephews, I’ll sentence them to forced labor. Truth be told, I was going to give Ma Jeong the same, but his body’s too broken to be of any use.”
He did go through extreme suffering, after all.
“It’ll serve as a warning to other wrongdoers.”
“Indeed. Also, I’ve followed your suggestion and issued an edict to all local officials. It’s already showing results.”
Ah, he must be talking about the proposal to reclaim bribe money in the form of grain.
I knew he’d like that idea.
I bowed again in thanks, and the Emperor moved on to the next topic.
“By the way, there’s been almost no snow this season.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“I’m beginning to think this is the sign of the famine you mentioned.”
“…”
“Regardless, you’ve done well. You may go now.”
As I exited the Emperor’s office, Warrior Jin Yeong was waiting.
“Did the audience go well?”
“Yes.”
It seemed he’d waited outside to escort me back.
A thoughtful gesture from the Emperor, no doubt.
Which worked in my favor—I’d needed help from Warrior Jin Yeong anyway.
After walking for a while, when we reached a quiet spot, I spoke up.
“Warrior Jin, I heard the Embroidered Guard played a big role in this case.”
I was referring to gathering intel on those who’d taken bribes. Jin Yeong seemed to understand immediately and nodded.
“Many worked hard.”
But his expression didn’t look particularly happy.
“Why do you seem… unenthusiastic?”
“Oh? Did it show?”
Warrior Jin Yeong gave a bitter smile.
“To be honest, I’m worried the Embroidered Guard hasn’t been much help to His Majesty lately.”
“Why do you think that?”
At my question, he sighed.
“His Majesty has another set of eyes, after all.”
Ah, he must mean the Eastern Bureau.
The Eastern Bureau was an intelligence network made up of eunuchs, operating throughout the empire.
So in this case, the credit likely went to them more than the Embroidered Guard.
That works out for me.
It’ll make my next suggestion more convincing.
“Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? If they’re His Majesty’s eyes and ears, then the Embroidered Guard is His Majesty’s hands and feet.”
“That’s true, but…”
Warrior Jin Yeong trailed off.
He must want to prove that the Embroidered Guard is more capable than the Eastern Bureau in the Emperor’s eyes.
“In that case, would you like to work with me on something?”
“Work?”
“Yes. It’s a chance to show the entire realm that the Embroidered Guard truly is His Majesty’s hands and feet.”
At my words, Warrior Jin Yeong looked at me suspiciously.
He was probably wondering if I was about to drag him into something shady.
Tsk, what does he take me for?
It’s nothing like that.
I looked at Warrior Jin Yeong and asked seriously.
“Are you any good at breaking ice?”
–TL Notes–
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