After meeting Deputy Merchant Lord Seong, I headed for Chaotian Palace.
The settlement I'd been waiting and waiting for was finally at hand.
I'd actually planned to settle things yesterday, but the Crown Prince had told me to come back the next day, which was why I was heading to Chaotian Palace today.
I entered the Crown Prince's office and bent forward to offer the proper formal greeting.
"I greet Your Highness, the Crown Pri–"
"From now on, there's no need to stand on ceremony with me."
"But…"
"That's an order."
Well, that worked for me. I'd already found it annoying having to go through all the formalities every time I came to see him.
I respectfully cupped my hands before taking a seat at the tea table.
"Your Highness. The reason I've come today is…"
Just then, a sheet of paper was spread out in front of me.
"Will this do?"
I picked it up and examined it.
It was a certificate officially naming the Eunhae Merchant Group as Chaotian Palace's supplier of Anxi Tieguanyin. (TL Note: A type of Tea)
Like father, like son, I suppose. He certainly handled things quickly and decisively, just like the Emperor.
Thinking that, I was about to roll the certificate up and slip it into my sleeve when I noticed a smile tugging at the Crown Prince's lips.
Don't tell me…
I unrolled the certificate again and read through it more carefully.
"The supply contract is only for six months?"
"Indeed."
"But…"
"Think carefully. I said I would designate the Eunhae Merchant Group as the supplier of Anxi Tieguanyin. I never said how long I would keep you as the supplier."
Now that he mentioned it… he was right.
Once again reminded that the man before me was the Emperor's son, I couldn't help smiling.
"What is it? What's with that smile?"
The Crown Prince, however, seemed to find my smile rather suspicious.
"I'm relieved."
"About what?"
"Seeing that Your Highness can grant my request without ever letting go of the reins makes me feel reassured about this empire's future."
"May I take that as a compliment?"
"Yes. It was meant as one."
I smiled.
"The fact that you slipped a condition into the certificate you gave me means Your Highness clearly understands the value of what you possess and, more importantly, knows how to use it."
At the very least, he wasn't going to become a foolish emperor.
"You're already this shrewd, so I'm beginning to wonder whether you truly need my advice at all."
The Crown Prince's expression stiffened slightly at my words.
"Hmm… Are you saying you intend to give up your position as my advisor?"
"Please don't misunderstand. Why would I ever give up that position? Elder Hwangbo personally asked it of me, and His Majesty even gave me this necklace."
I continued.
"If anything, I've realized I need to become even more capable. That way, I'll be able to offer Your Highness even better advice, won't I?"
"Ha! You're going to become even more capable than you already are?"
"Yes."
I nodded.
I'd admittedly let my guard down a little, but getting outmaneuvered by the Crown Prince this time had actually been rather exhilarating.
It wasn't so much because things had failed to go exactly the way I wanted. Rather, it had reminded me that there were still countless mountains I would have to cross before I could make the Eunhae Merchant Group the greatest merchant group under heaven.
For some reason, however, the Crown Prince looked utterly dumbfounded.
"No, wait! You're telling me you intend to become even more capable? Just how much are you planning to squeeze out of people?"
"Squeeze out of people?"
I gently smiled and shook my head.
" Your Highness, I'm merely concerned that I won't be able to achieve my goal if I remain as I am."
With that, I rolled the certificate back up and tucked it into my clothes.
The Crown Prince watched me before asking,
"Don't tell me you're sulking because I only gave you a six-month supply contract?"
"…"
Well, I couldn't exactly say that had nothing to do with it…
Do you have any idea how hard I worked for this?!
"That hesitation tells me I was right."
"Ahem. Of course not. If our merchant group supplies you with excellent Anxi Tieguanyin, can't we simply renew the contract six months from now?"
I continued.
"I'll take it as Your Highness's instruction not to grow complacent with what we have and to keep working diligently."
The Crown Prince thought for a moment before holding out his hand.
"Give me that certificate for a moment."
I tilted my head, but pulled the certificate back out and handed it over.
"Here you are."
The Crown Prince added the character for ten (十) to the middle of the characters for six months (六月).
"I look forward to working with you for the next sixty months."
.
.
.
After returning to the inn, I asked Geumryeong to deliver a letter to Father.
"Young Master, I've brought your tea."
Palgap opened the door and entered. On the wrist of the hand lowering the tea onto the table was the bracelet woven from colored thread that Daoist Master Cheong-su had given him the other day.
"You really do keep that bracelet on."
"How could I possibly disregard the sincerity of the person who gave it to me? It is absolutely not because I'm afraid of ghosts or anything like that."
"Sure, sure."
I nodded before continuing.
"Still, that's a relief. Young Lady Ha Hwa doesn't seem afraid of ghosts, at least."
I could still remember something she'd said when we'd spoken briefly the other day.
"Human malice is far more frightening than any ghost."
I'd found myself agreeing with her.
At my words, Palgap blinked several times before his face flushed red.
"Is teasing me really that much fun for you?"
"Yeah."
"…"
"You think I'd tease just anyone? I only do it because you're someone I trust and rely on."
After I gently soothed him, Palgap soon broke into a foolish grin again.
"By the way, Young Master, how did things go at Chaotian Palace today?"
"Ah… the Eunhae Merchant Group will be supplying Anxi Tieguanyin for the next sixty months."
"That's excellent news. But…"
Palgap tilted his head.
"Why sixty months? Wouldn't people normally just say five years?"
"There's a story behind that. Why? Want to hear it?"
"N–No, that's all right."
Once I'd finished taking care of my own business, I went to see Deputy Merchant Lord Seong.
"Welcome."
"I brought dinner."
"Thank you."
Palgap, who had followed me inside, placed the dumplings and tea on the table.
"Please, eat."
Since Deputy Merchant Lord Seong couldn't properly move around outside and had been forced to remain shut inside his room at the inn, he'd decided to make do with simple meals like this.
Regular meals weren't sitting well with his stomach.
Watching him, I couldn't help thinking that there were few hardships quite like this one. At the same time, seeing Deputy Merchant Lord Seong endure it with such determination made me understand how he'd managed to secure a place among the Hundred Great Merchant Groups.
I watched him while eating a dumpling. Something seemed to be troubling him.
"Is something bothering you?"
"Pardon?"
"You look like you have something on your mind."
"Ah, forgive me."
He gave an awkward smile before continuing.
"The truth is, I need to replace two of the three Supervisors tomorrow, but I still haven't decided which two. That's what I've been thinking about."
"I see."
"If I'm replacing them anyway, removing the one who acts as their leader would have the greatest effect. The problem is, I have no way of knowing which of the three actually fills that role."
He looked at me.
"Which brings me to my point. I'd like to ask for your help, Deputy Merchant Lord Eun."
"My help?"
"Yes. Naturally, I'm not asking you to help me for nothing. I'll give you ten percent of the net profit from this trading expedition."
I couldn't help being surprised.
Pepper was an expensive luxury commodity with an enormous profit margin.
Which meant ten percent of the net profit would amount to a considerable sum.
"You don't need to go that far."
"No. I'm a merchant as well. I know when money needs to be spent, and in my judgment, this is precisely one of those times."
Seeing the determination in his eyes, I sighed, picked up another dumpling, and said,
"Very well. I'll look into it."
"Thank you."
.
.
.
After eating dinner with Deputy Merchant Lord Seong, I made a few preparations and headed downstairs.
The first floor was crowded with people gathered in small groups, chatting among themselves.
Among them were the Supervisors from the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group. They sat around a small table in the corner, drinking tea and talking.
I walked over to the table where the captains had gathered.
"Deputy Merchant Lord."
"Did everyone enjoy their meal?"
"Yes. Compared to what we eat at sea, anything served on land feels like a feast."
"We finally set sail the day after tomorrow. Are you nervous?"
"Of course."
"Doesn't every sailor's heart race whenever it's time to set sail?"
"It certainly does."
I called for Palgap.
"Palgap. Hand them out to everyone."
"Yes, Young Master."
At my command, Palgap began passing out the contents of his basket one by one.
They were wooden tokens shaped like palms.
"What's this?"
"I had them made as a little encouragement for all of you before we set sail. Each token is worth half a silver tael."
"What?!"
Everyone stared at me in shock.
Half a silver tael was a fortune these days. With the current poor harvests, it was enough to buy roughly forty kilograms of white rice.
"But once tonight is over, that token becomes worthless. So tonight, you may spend up to half a silver tael on whatever food you'd like."
"Can we buy things with it too?"
"You can, but purchases of goods can't exceed half the total amount."
"Understood."
"Write what you spent it on and how much you spent on the back of the wooden token, and I'll settle the bill afterward. I've already informed every shop in Nanjing, so go enjoy yourselves without worrying."
"Thank you."
Just then, the Supervisors from the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group spoke up.
"Are you giving them to us as well?"
I nodded.
"Once we're all aboard the same ship, aren't we companions on the same voyage?"
"…"
I clapped my hands.
Clap, clap!
"All right, everyone. Go out and enjoy yourselves."
"Yes!"
They paired off in small groups and left the inn.
Every one of them looked delighted by the unexpected windfall.
The three Supervisors from the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group were among them.
There was a reason I'd spent this much money just to get them out of the inn.
If I wanted to learn more about them, I needed them somewhere other than the inn.
Besides, it wouldn't hurt to reward our merchant group's people and the captains while I was at it.
I swept my gaze over the departing crowd before speaking.
"Escort Guard Seo Wu, Escort Guard Jin Yu. You two are coming out with me."
"Yes."
"We'll follow you."
* * *
That evening.
The shops surrounding the inn where the Eunhae Merchant Group was staying were delighted by the sudden influx of customers.
"Right this way!"
"Our restaurant will even throw in an extra serving of fish-fragrant tofu!"
People were drawn from one establishment to another by the clerks calling out to them.
Among those wandering the streets were the three Supervisors from the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group.
"What kind of windfall is this?!"
"Where should we go?"
Just then, someone passing nearby said,
"Isn't Jade Beauty Pavilion the most famous pleasure house in all of Nanjing?"
"That's right. They say if you come all the way to Nanjing without visiting that place, you might as well claim you've never been to Nanjing at all."
Their eyes lit up at the conversation.
In truth, they already knew about Jade Beauty Pavilion.
It was so expensive that under normal circumstances, they couldn't even dream of setting foot inside.
But now that they'd suddenly been given enough money to afford a visit, they gathered their courage and headed for Jade Beauty Pavilion.
Before long, each of them had a courtesan at his side and was thoroughly enjoying himself.
"By the way, Supervisor Im. It seems the higher-ups caught wind of what happened last time. Are we really going to be all right?"
"So what if they noticed? They don't have any evidence."
"Well… that's true."
"If the pepper is poor quality again this time, they're going to hold us responsible…"
"Can't we just say the weather was bad and the harvest suffered?"
"True. It's something happening in a distant country, so they can't exactly investigate it easily. And even if they eventually find out, we'll already have pocketed a fortune by then."
And so, the three continued dreaming about lining their pockets again.
* * *
I smirked at the conversation drifting up from below.
At that moment, Escort Guard Seo Wu, Escort Guard Jin Yu, and I had infiltrated Jade Beauty Pavilion.
The truth was, this place also served as one of the Eunhae Merchant Group's intelligence hubs.
The ceilings of every room were decorated with silk, and that had been done deliberately.
It kept anyone eavesdropping from above hidden from the people below.
The men who had steered them toward this place, along with the courtesans sitting beside them, were also members of our merchant group's Intelligence Unit.
What they were drinking now was a beverage that came remarkably close to liquor.
There was always a loophole for everything.
And one such loophole was fermented fruit brew.
If grapes, apples, or similar fruit were left to ferment with sugar, they produced a sweet and sour liquid. Dilute that with water and drink it, and you'd start feeling pleasantly lightheaded, almost as though you'd been drinking actual liquor.
Perhaps because it had been so long since they'd experienced anything resembling alcohol, or perhaps because they'd simply let down their guard, they were now happily spilling one secret after another.
And from their conversation, I learned that the man they called Supervisor Im was effectively the leader of the three.
That should be enough to earn my ten-percent cut of the Myeongmyeong Merchant Group's pepper trade profits.
On the way back to the inn.
A man was standing near the entrance of the inn where we were staying.
And the martial presence emanating from him was anything but ordinary.
– He's a Profound expert.
At Escort Guard Jin Yu's Voice Transmission, I gave the slightest nod.
I cautiously continued toward the inn.
As the distance between us narrowed, I sensed something familiar from him.
The distinctive presence of someone who had trained in an Imperial Palace Martial Art.
– He's from the Imperial Palace.
I informed the Escort Guards through Voice Transmission as I approached him.
For a Profound expert from the Imperial Palace to come all the way here… He was probably looking for me, but what could have happened?
The man noticed me as well, turned in my direction, and approached.
"You must be Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho."
"Yes, that's me, but…"
"I bring an Imperial Decree from His Majesty."
At those words, I immediately dropped to one knee and accepted the scroll from him.
I opened it.
"…"
The contents of the scroll were remarkably short and clear.
[Once you're finished there, quit dragging your feet and get back here.]
He must be in a hurry.
–TL Notes–
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