The eunuch continued.
“And so, His Majesty the Emperor bestowed this as a token of gratitude.”
“His Majesty’s grace is as boundless as the sea.”
I didn’t desperately need it, but since His Majesty had gone out of his way to give it, I decided to accept it gratefully.
I’m sure it’ll come in handy someday.
“Young Master Eun’s decision moved not only His Majesty, but even the Embroidered Guard warriors and many others. I expect the Commander will probably come by to pay his respects before long.”
“Urk!”
I suddenly felt the refreshments I’d just eaten stick in my throat.
The “Commander” the eunuch just mentioned could only mean the head of the Embroidered Guard.
That was on a completely different level of pressure from dealing with Warrior Jin Yeong.
“Please, no. If he even thinks about coming, stop him for me. Just facing His Majesty is enough to make my heart pound out of my chest.”
“Understood. I’ll convey your words as such.”
“Thank you, truly.”
I bowed my head with a long sigh of relief to show I meant it.
“Ah, and we’ve uncovered who was behind the people who attacked you, Young Master Eun.”
“Already? I knew the Embroidered Guard would be fast.”
That was important, so I focused all my attention.
“Yes. One of their accomplices worked in the Imperial Proclamations Office.”
The Imperial Proclamations Office was the bureau that announced the emperor’s orders – about as close to His Majesty as it gets.
“Not only that, we found their collaborators scattered all over the place.”
“You tracked them down impressively fast.”
“Lord Bang, the newly appointed Minister of Justice, played a major role.”
I heard Elder Bang – no, Minister of Justice Bang now – had a knack for squeezing people without using torture, and for digging up evidence with uncanny speed.
“According to their statements, they took bribes to do it, and the ones behind them were an Unorthodox Sect group called Heaven–Changing Path.”
“Heaven–Changing Path?”
I’d never even heard the name before.
“But that name…”
“Yes. Just like it sounds, ‘changing the heavens’ – they’re people who want to replace His Majesty.”
.
.
.
That afternoon.
I went to visit Warrior Jin Yeong.
I had heard His Majesty had granted him a month’s leave.
“I’m glad you returned safely.”
“What can I say, I’m pretty capable.”
At my shameless quip, Warrior Jin Yeong burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha! Well, you do have a point.”
“But should you really be laughing like that? Won’t your wound open up?”
He shook his head at my concern.
“You don’t need to worry about that. Thanks to the elixir you used, I’m already fully healed.”
He went on.
“Back then I went along when you called it just a bowl of offering water, but to be honest, I didn’t really believe you.”
“Huh?”
“You’re not the type to sit there praying over a bowl of water. You’re the type to rack your brains and solve the problem in that time. I was sure you’d used some precious elixir for our sake.”
“…”
Warrior Jin Yeong had me completely figured out.
“This time, His Majesty even sent the imperial physician. The physician said that with about a month of rest, I’ll have no trouble wielding a sword again.”
“That’s really a relief.”
“It’s all thanks to you. Using such a valuable elixir for us… I will never forget this favor.”
I suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
But I had no intention of ever admitting that it was actually Geumryeong’s needle.
“By the way, what about Elder Bang…”
“Hm? Ah, you mean Lord Bang, the Minister of Justice.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Yes, so you’ve heard. His Majesty personally summoned him this time and placed him in an important post. Thanks to this incident, no one could object.”
I could guess why the emperor had ordered the Minister of Justice to visit Warrior Jin Yeong and his party.
“Honestly, I was going to pay my respects… but he seemed far too busy.”
“Of course. Right now, he’s probably in the top five busiest people in all of Beijing.”
Well, it couldn’t be helped.
I’d just have to visit him another time.
.
.
.
Time passed like that, and it was coming up on a full month since I returned from Gansu.
It was already the Fifth Month.
After finally clearing out the mountain of backlogged work, I felt like I could finally breathe again.
“Young master, Warrior Jin Yeong is here.”
At Palgap’s words, I hurried to the reception room.
“Jin Yeong!”
My face lit up when I saw his clothes. He was wearing the Embroidered Guard uniform.
As expected, Warrior Jin Yeong looked best in Embroidered Guard colors.
“So you’re finally going back to duty?”
“I have to. My month of recuperation is over. And I don’t have the luxury of dawdling.”
We enjoyed some tea and snacks while chatting about this and that.
“By the way… did something happen? You don’t look too happy.”
“Have you heard of Heaven–Changing Path?”
I nodded at his question.
I’d already heard about them from the eunuch who brought the emperor’s gift.
“Yes, I know of them.”
“The leader of Heaven–Changing Path has been identified.”
“Really?”
“But… that leader turned out to be His Highness Prince Sekyung.”
“…What?”
For a moment, I wondered if I’d misheard.
“Who did you say?”
“His Highness Prince Sekyung.”
Prince Sekyung was the emperor’s older cousin.
But as far as I knew, he wasn’t someone who craved the throne enough to pull something like this.
How did I know that?
Because I’d met him in my previous life.
“They’ve already gathered plenty of evidence and are escorting him to the imperial palace.”
“I see.”
But Warrior Jin Yeong’s expression was complicated.
He knew it too.
That Prince Sekyung was not the kind of person to get involved in something like this.
“It’s hard to believe, but what can we do? All the evidence is already pointing at him.”
I hesitated for a moment, then carefully opened my mouth.
“Would it be possible for me to take part in this investigation?”
“Hm? You?”
“Yes. I’m the one they ambushed, and I’m also the one who captured them. Doesn’t that give me at least a little right to help investigate them?”
Not to mention, I still held the post of Censorate Inspector that the emperor had granted me.
Warrior Jin Yeong thought for a moment, then spoke.
“There’s no reason it can’t be done. Go pay your respects to the Minister of Justice. He’s the one in charge of the case right now.”
“Is he free these days?”
“I wouldn’t say ‘free,’ but he has more leeway than he did a month ago.”
Honestly, even after clearing out my backlog, my work always overflowed.
Even so, I had several reasons for inserting myself into this matter.
First, because it directly involved me, I wanted to see it settled properly.
Second, I had a strong gut feeling this whole case was fabricated.
And though it hadn’t happened yet in this life, in my previous one, I had received a great favor from Prince Sekyung.
Prince Sekyung held a fief in Jiangxi, and he had no interest whatsoever in politics or power.
His only interest was flowers and plants.
Tending to his vast garden with his own hands was his one true joy.
In my previous life, during a trade trip to Jiangxi, the senior supervisor assisting me suddenly collapsed with a fever.
We invited several physicians to take his pulse, and eventually learned it was a rare illness found only in Jiangxi.
So we tried to obtain the medicinal herbs needed to treat it, but strangely, we couldn’t get our hands on them anywhere.
The Eunhae Merchant Group specialized in medicinal ingredients.
No matter how rare an herb was, there was nothing we couldn’t procure, so something about it felt off.
After digging around, we learned a rival merchant group had interfered behind the scenes.
I went to that rival group, pleaded, even knelt, but they were utterly heartless.
We needed to administer the medicine as soon as possible, but by the time we could send someone back to our main branch to fetch the herbs, it would already be too late.
While I was sinking into despair, someone sent by Prince Sekyung unexpectedly came to find me.
Carrying the very herbs I had been desperately searching for.
I couldn’t even put into words how grateful I was back then…
So at the time, I swore I would repay that kindness one day, no matter what.
Ah, of course, that despicable rival merchant group was… taken care of in due time.
Later, after paying him a visit to express my thanks, I asked why he had given such precious herbs to someone he had never even met.
Prince Sekyung gave a gentle smile and said,
“I simply heard how dearly you cherished your people, and it moved my heart. There was no other reason.”
Whatever the reason, a favor received must be repaid.
A certain residence in Beijing.
Bang Hyo-myeong let out a deep sigh.
“Good grief…”
He had no idea how any of this had happened.
They had dug into the people who attacked Eun Seo-ho to steal the emperor’s letter, and out popped Prince Sekyung as the mastermind.
“His Highness is not that kind of man…”
But the evidence was simply too clear.
That was why he was clutching his head like this.
“Ugh, maybe I need some meat to get my brain working. Seok Baek.”
“Yes, you called?”
“Light some charcoal out in the yard. I need to grill some meat.”
“Understood. What kind of meat should I prepare?”
“Today…”
After a moment of thought, he made up his mind.
“Right! Beef.”
And so, charcoal was lit in one corner of the yard.
He loved meat so much that he’d even built a small brick grill in the yard just for barbecuing.
Some people said it was beneath a high official to personally grill his own meat, but he couldn’t care less.
Meat was his strength, the fuel that kept his brain running smoothly.
“Tsssss–!”
The beef on the grate sizzled and browned, looking more delicious by the moment.
Just then, a servant approached.
“Um, you have a visitor, sir.”
“A visitor?”
Hearing that a guest had arrived right before he could eat, his face immediately twisted in annoyance.
“Who is it?”
“He asked me to tell you it’s Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho.”
“Hm? Eun Seo-ho?”
He quickly spoke up.
“Show him in.”
“Yes, sir.”
A short while later, a handsome young man walked up to him.
The young man grumbled as he eyed the meat.
“That’s just cruel. You were planning to eat this delicious beef all by yourself?”
“Quit your whining and sit down.”
“Yes, sir!”
Eun Seo-ho plopped down in front of him, and a plate of perfectly grilled beef was set before him.
“Let’s eat.”
“Okay.”
They chatted as they ate the beef.
“By the way, I heard you arrived in Beijing a month ago. You should’ve reported to me right away!”
“I was busy too. When I got back, I was buried under a pile of overdue work. Besides, I sent a letter.”
“Oh, you did?”
“Did you even read it?”
“Ahem.”
Bang Hyo-myeong cleared his throat awkwardly. In truth, he’d been so busy he hadn’t been able to read any of the letters piling up.
Eun Seo-ho chuckled and went on.
“Anyway, this post really seems to suit you. You look much better than when I saw you before.”
“Are you making fun of me right now?”
“How could you say something so hurtful? When have I ever made fun of you, Minister?”
“Why am I even arguing with you? Sigh. Just eat your meat.”
They had just about filled their stomachs when Eun Seo-ho spoke up again.
“I heard that the one backing Heaven–Changing Path is His Highness Prince Sekyung.”
“Sigh, that’s exactly what’s making my head pound right now.”
Bang Hyo-myeong shook his head.
“From everything I know, His Highness is absolutely not that kind of man. And… he’s the one His Majesty relied on the most.”
“His Majesty must be agonizing over this.”
“Of course.”
“Knowing how much this weighs on him, I can’t just sit back and do nothing. So, would it be alright if I joined this investigation?”
“Hm? You?”
“I think I’ve earned the right.”
At those words, Bang Hyo-myeong couldn’t help but laugh. He had already seen more than enough of Eun Seo-ho’s abilities in the previous incident.
Even knowing the Emperor’s intentions, he’d honestly thought, “Just this kid alone would have been enough. Why did they bother dragging me into it as well…?”
And now such a talent was volunteering to help with this case.
He couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face.
“You brat! You lovely brat!”
“Huh?”
“Alright then, when do you want to start? How about right now? Once you’ve eaten, you should work.”
I was speechless.
Wait, was my offer to join the investigation really something to get that happy about?
More importantly… so this meat wasn’t free after all, huh?
Still, thanks to him, I ate well.
That attendant, Seok Baek, really knew how to grill meat.
Well, even without the meat, I’d been planning to get involved in this anyway.
“Let’s head to the imperial palace right now.”
“What, right now?”
But Minister Bang… no, I’ll just keep calling him Elder Bang.
Elder Bang’s drive was incredible.
“We’re going now! There’s no time to waste.”
“Hang on, do you even know what time it is right now?”
“I know it’s between eleven at night and one in the morning. But time doesn’t matter when it comes to clearing an innocent person’s name.”
At those words, I couldn’t argue.
For someone suffering under a false accusation, every single hour must feel like agony.
Seeing how eager he was to clear that injustice even a moment sooner made me feel oddly humbled.
Elder Bang really was a good person.
Following Elder Bang, I arrived at the Ministry of Justice.
One of the night-shift officials saw us and asked in surprise,
“Minister! What brings you here at this hour?”
“I’ve come to look into something briefly.”
“I see. And the person beside you?”
“I’ve brought him to use as my assistant.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Just like that, I was able to walk straight into the records building.
Once you were at the level of a minister, you didn’t need anyone’s permission to bring an assistant.
So this was what power tasted like?
Elder Bang appeared from somewhere with a huge stack of documents and dropped them onto the table in front of me.
“Thump!”
The sound alone told me how heavy they were.
“Go through all of this. And if anything seems odd, don’t hesitate to speak up.”
“…Alright.”
Looking at the sheer amount of material I had to review, I slightly, just slightly, regretted volunteering for this investigation.
Still, a debt of gratitude had to be repaid.
Even if I was the only one who remembered it, that didn’t mean the kindness had never existed.
And when it came to balancing favors and grudges, the accounts needed to be settled cleanly.
–TL Notes–
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