At my words, the Emperor burst into hearty laughter.
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Was that a good sign? Or a bad one?
A tense moment crept by, then the Emperor let out a small chuckle.
“I’ve truly never seen anyone like you. To think there’d be a brat who tells the Emperor himself to play the Old Man Under the Moon.”
“I beg Your Majesty’s pardon. I only spoke because this humble subject wished to ease Your Majesty’s worries. I hope you won’t take offense.”
“So, what’s your real intention in saying that to me?”
“There is no hidden intention, Your Majesty. This humble subject only…”
“Tsk! Talk straight while I’m still being nice.”
Yikes!
I bowed my head and confessed honestly.
“To be blunt, I was tempted too, Your Majesty. But since both princes have refused Her Highness, there’s no way for her to be connected to the imperial line anymore, is there?”
“That much is true. So you’re thinking of tying her to your Cousin Hong Seon-il instead. Is that it?”
Uh… how did he know that?
“I’d already heard. Hong Seon-il gave the princess a necklace, and I was told she didn’t refuse it.”
So he knows everything from one to ten.
I’d better tread carefully.
“It was nothing more than a token of gratitude for her advice.”
“Was it really only that?”
“…”
“Fine. I’ll go along with your tune this time as well. There’s nothing bad in it for me either. No, in fact, it’s something I wanted in the first place.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is immeasurable.”
“You may withdraw now.”
At the Emperor’s dismissal, I hurried out.
I’d gotten everything I wanted, so if I loitered around and ended up getting stuck in the palace, that would be a disaster.
After Eun Seo-ho withdrew, the Emperor smacked his lips as he stared at the spot where Eun Seo-ho had just been standing.
“He really is a tempting one.”
“His sense for when to strike and when to pull back is impressive enough to inspire admiration. I can see again why Your Majesty favors him.”
The Emperor nodded at the eunuch’s words.
“He knows exactly where I’m itching and scratches it just right.”
The reason the Emperor liked this so much was simple: not only he, but Eun Seo-ho also profited from it.
‘Then he has no choice but to throw himself into his work.’
The Emperor smiled faintly and spoke to the eunuch.
“Summon Princess Shina.”
Hong Seon-il was hard at work in the Hanlin Academy.
He might have been exhausted from barely eating and barely sleeping, but since it was an order from the Emperor, he had to carry it out faithfully.
“Editorial Assistant Hong, should this be filed over here?”
“This ought to go over there rather than here.”
“I see. I’ll put it there. But are you really alright? I heard you haven’t been eating at all lately. Shouldn’t you at least have a Physician check your pulse?”
“I’m alright.”
“At this rate, I’m worried you’ll collapse.”
Hong Seon-il gave a bitter smile. He knew exactly what his condition was and what had caused it.
He was lovesick.
‘Me, lovesick? If you’d told me that a year ago, I never would’ve believed you.’
And not long ago, Eun Seo-ho had tossed these words at him.
“Don’t worry, Cousin. It’s all going to work out. What matters is your resolve. As long as that doesn’t break, you’ll be fine.”
As for resolve, he was more than fine.
He could walk into a blazing fire carrying an armful of firewood without a moment’s hesitation.
He was just about to shake off his thoughts and focus on his work again.
“Editorial Assistant Hong! Is Editorial Assistant Hong here?”
The one calling for him was, surprisingly, the eunuch.
“His Majesty the Emperor is summoning you.”
A short while later.
He was standing before the Emperor.
“This loyal subject Hong Seon-il pays his respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Raise your head.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”
When Hong Seon-il lifted his head and the Emperor saw his face, the Emperor slowly shook his own.
He’d already heard.
That Hong Seon-il had practically stopped eating these days.
Honestly, he’d intended to tease the man a little, but the sight of that skin–and–bones face made the urge vanish completely.
‘If I tease him wrong, I might lose a loyal subject. And it’d be troublesome if that brat held a grudge.’
The Emperor changed his mind.
“Tsk tsk, do you like Princess Shina that much? Enough to ruin your own body over her?”
“Gasp! Th– this subject has committed grave disloyalty toward Your Majesty.”
He hastily threw himself flat on the floor.
“That’s not the problem.”
The Emperor continued.
“If I were to punish everyone just for what they harbor in their hearts, how many people in this palace would I have to condemn for treason? Anyone who works a lot must have at least once thought about wanting to kill me.”
“Th– this subject has never harbored such outrageous thoughts, not even once.”
The Emperor’s lips curled up as he nodded.
“I know very well the depth of Hong Seon-il’s loyalty.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”
“So now, get up.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”
When Hong Seon-il rose to his feet, the Emperor said to him,
“Hong Seon-il. Let me ask you honestly. Just what do you like so much about Princess Shina? To be blunt, her face is hardly what you’d call pretty, is it?”
“To be honest, people do tend to place a lot of importance on appearances. That’s why they wrap gifts in colorful silk and drape themselves in expensive, fine clothes. But I believe that sort of outward beauty lasts only a moment. It’s inner beauty that’s truly eternal.”
He went on.
“So it pains me and fills me with regret to see the current trend of judging Her Highness solely by her looks.”
“So you’re saying, Hong Seon-il, that you find Princess Shina beautiful?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What an odd fellow you are.”
The Emperor quietly clicked his tongue in his heart.
He wished the two princes who’d turned Princess Shina down were at least half like Hong Seon-il.
‘Then I wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble. Tsk tsk. Useless fools, the both of them. Hoo, what can I do? That’s just the size of their vessels.’
At the same time, he felt it was a blessing in disguise.
Before they could ruin things on a larger scale, this incident had shown him just how small his sons’ capacities were.
“Hong Seon-il.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“If you marry Princess Shina, you won’t be allowed to take any concubines for the rest of your life.”
“That’s only natural, Your Majesty.”
“Good. In that case, you two shall marry.”
The words were tossed out so casually that Hong Seon-il couldn’t help but blurt out in surprise,
“What?”
“Before calling you, I already summoned Princess Shina and asked for her opinion. She said she was willing, and since you’re willing as well, there shouldn’t be any problem, should there?”
“Th– then…”
“In the Emperor’s name, I hereby grant permission for your marriage.”
For a moment, Hong Seon-il thought he could see Eun Seo-ho standing right in front of him.
And he felt as if he could hear Eun Seo-ho’s voice.
“Didn’t I tell you? I told you it’d all work out, didn’t I?”
Have I ever said this before?
The Emperor’s drive is insane.
On the very day I spoke to the Emperor about the Maraeseo Kingdom’s princess and Cousin Seon-il…
“Huh? What did you say?”
“The head eunuch just came by the Yeonjun Merchant Group and delivered the marriage papers.”
The exchange of those papers is where a wedding begins.
Wow… they say you should strike while the iron’s hot, but I didn’t think he’d start this fast.
Aunt and Uncle must have been shocked out of their minds.
Their son suddenly being betrothed to a foreign princess and all.
Hmm,
I couldn’t say anything before because Cousin Seon-il asked me not to, but I should’ve dropped by yesterday at least and given them a heads–up.
Still, it’s a good thing.
Now Cousin Seon-il won’t be starving himself anymore.
And I can finally relax when it comes to him.
Since His Majesty agreed to play the Old Man Under the Moon, this matter will be handled thoroughly.
The fact that the eunuch brought Princess Shina’s marriage papers meant the Emperor intended to act as her side’s principal wedding patron.
Honestly, this was why I’d dragged the Emperor into it in the first place.
Among all the people I know, he’s the most reliable when it comes to actually getting things done.
Leaving aside that he’d love to turn me into his personal work slave, if I had to choose just one person I could trust with a task, the Emperor would be my first pick.
A few days passed.
The marriage talks between the Maraeseo Kingdom’s princess and Cousin Seon-il progressed swiftly, and before long, the engagement was formally sealed.
Maybe thanks to that, I’ve heard that these days there’s always a smile on Cousin Seon-il’s face.
As if he’d never been skin and bones from refusing to eat…
Well, when things end well, that’s all that matters.
On such a bright spring day, while I was hard at work in my office, Palgap came in.
“Young Master, Escort Chief Gwak has arrived.”
“Oh, he’s finally here? Tell him I’ll be there in a moment.”
I quickly wrapped up what I was working on and headed to the reception room.
When I opened the door and stepped inside, my Master was sitting there, drinking tea.
“I greet you, Master.”
“Yes.”
Master accepted my greeting and continued,
“I heard from Escort Chief Hacheol. He said you handled the North Sea Ice Palace matter excellently.”
“A lot of people helped me.”
“Even so, the one who had it the hardest was the Department Chief… I mean, the Little Palace Lord, wasn’t it? The ones who bear responsibility always have it toughest.”
There was a tinge of remorse in Master’s voice as he spoke.
“Ah, and I informed the Ice Palace Lord that you’ve become the Little Palace Lord.”
Come to think of it, the Palace Lord did say they’d give me a gift to celebrate that.
“Well done. By the way, why did you ask me to meet you in Beijing?”
“Ah, actually, on this trip to the North Sea, I found some things the former Snow Wind Palace Lord left in a Hidden Vault.”
“What? A Hidden Vault?”
Master’s expression said this was the first he’d heard of it.
So I took out the inkstone and asked,
“Do you recognize this inkstone?”
“I can’t say for sure, but it looks very similar to the one my father used to use.”
“This inkstone is the key to that Hidden Vault.”
I explained to Master how I’d come to acquire it. After listening to the whole story, Master said,
“Then one of the people who attacked and annihilated Snow Wind Palace must have sold this inkstone off. And it ended up in your hands, Young Palace Lord.”
It was, after all, a Duan stone inkstone carved from Duan stone.
But it was actually the Hidden Vault, and through a humble general store, it had fallen into my hands.
“However, the items inside had all been hidden elsewhere by one of the former Snow Wind Palace Lord’s subordinates, and what I found were those things.”
I continued,
“Since the items inside were left behind by your father, they naturally belong to you, Master. But it’s too much to bring with me right now, so when I return to Hubei next time, I’ll deliver them then.”
“In my heart I’d like to refuse, but circumstances don’t allow that, so I’ll shamelessly accept.”
“Please don’t even think of refusing. They’re the inheritance your father left you, Master, something you’re absolutely meant to receive.”
I went on.
“And the reason I asked you to come is that there’s something I shouldn’t put off giving you.”
“If it’s something that mustn’t be delayed… what is…”
I opened the Hidden Vault, took out a box from inside, and held it out to Master.
It was the box Master’s father had left for him.
“This.”
Master took the box, and when he looked at the lid, his face went rigid.
[To my son Myeong-hyeon, Young Palace Lord of Snow Wind Palace]
“This is…”
With trembling fingers, Master traced the characters. His lips were quivering.
So were his eyes… and soon his whole body began to tremble.
It was only natural. This was something his father, who had died twenty years ago, had personally left for his son.
That kind of reaction was to be expected.
“I don’t know what’s inside yet. Since it was left for you, it only makes sense that you open it yourself, Master.”
“…”
I then naturally rose to my feet.
“My apologies. I just remembered there’s something I need to take care of right away. Would it be alright if I excuse myself first?”
Master nodded.
“You should finish the refreshments. They’re very expensive. There aren’t any other guests expected today, so please take your time and relax. Then I’ll excuse myself.”
I stood up and left the reception room, then spoke to Palgap.
“Don’t let anyone else approach until Master comes out.”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
I glanced back over my shoulder and pictured Master’s reddened eyes.
.
.
.
Master left the Beijing branch without saying a word.
But in his place, he left a handwritten letter.
It said he was grateful, and sorry for showing such an embarrassing display.
I couldn’t help wondering what was inside that box.
I’m a little curious.
Right now, I’m on my way to the imperial palace.
Today is the day of the second meeting for foreign trade.
When I arrived at the palace, an eunuch led me to the Ministry of Rites building.
Hmm…
Unlike before, I could clearly feel tension in the expressions of the Ministry of Rites officials.
It was because of what I’d reported to His Majesty about Son Se–gil.
They’re currently investigating whether any of the other officials took bribes as well.
My report was causing trouble for the other officials in the Ministry of Rites, but I didn’t feel particularly sorry.
Anyone who wasn’t innocent would naturally start trembling on their own.
Once there, I talked about trade with the representatives of the merchant groups I’d met last time.
But even after we’d been talking for quite a while, one merchant group’s people still hadn’t arrived.
It was the Changhae Merchant Group, the one I’d been introduced to by Deputy Merchant Lord Ji Seok-mun of the Baekbuik Merchant Group.
“The Changhae Merchant Group is running a little late.”
At my words, Deputy Merchant Lord Ji Seok-mun nodded, looking worried.
“Indeed. He’s not the sort to be late for an appointment…”
Then I suddenly stiffened.
No way. This presence…
“We’re a bit late.”
Before long, the door opened and a familiar voice reached my ears.
And when I saw who walked in, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
He was from the Murim Alliance…
No, he was Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang of the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
–TL Notes–
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