That evening.
We borrowed a room at the Yunnan branch and began our meeting.
“How could this happen…?”
Once they grasped the situation, they erupted in anger.
“To think they betrayed His Majesty and our comrades!”
“This is unthinkable!”
I quietly watched them. Their anger was more than understandable.
What worried me was whether that anger would make them act rashly.
Then Gwon Jik spoke to me.
“In a situation like this, I’m grateful we came here as your escort guards, just as you advised. You have my thanks.”
“It was nothing.”
I gave him a mild, humble smile.
“It may not be my place to say this, but I think grief and anger will have to wait. Right now, we need to focus on the duty we came here to carry out.”
Then I looked at the others one by one and continued.
“If we fail as well, His Majesty will be deeply shaken. No matter what happens to anyone else, shouldn’t we at least rescue His Highness the Imperial Prince?”
At my question, they nodded.
“You’re right.”
“We serve under His Majesty’s command. We can’t afford to lose control over personal feelings.”
Before long, they had composed themselves.
The mood in the room shifted in an instant.
Then again, if they were skilled enough to become Embroidered Guards, maybe this kind of mental discipline was a given.
Still… something about it bothered me.
“Then let’s discuss how we’re going to enter Springview Fortress.”
At Gwon Jik’s words, the other Embroidered Guards began offering ideas.
But no suitable conclusion emerged, so we decided to gather more information before meeting again and dismissed the discussion.
.
.
.
When I returned to my room, Geumryeong was perched on top of the writing desk.
“You just got here?”
“Kui!”
Geumryeong hopped once on the desk.
Just as Young Lady Seohyang had told me to, I’d been sending Geumryeong to her regularly. I should’ve sent it sooner this time, but things had delayed me.
After giving Geumryeong a light pat, I untied the letter and unfolded it.
[True acting means deceiving even yourself.]
Huh? What was that supposed to mean?
True acting meant deceiving even yourself?
“Kui! Kui!”
Geumryeong tapped the desk with its front paws, urging me on. Since it had delivered the message, it wanted silver.
“Okay, okay.”
I took out a silver tael from my pouch and handed it over. Geumryeong grabbed it, licked it over and over, and rolled around with it.
Lately, instead of swallowing silver or gold the moment it got one, Geumryeong liked to play with it first before eating it.
Did that mean it had gotten comfortable enough to enjoy itself now?
Then something I hadn’t mentioned during the meeting came back to me.
Imperial Prince Ju Hyeon also carried the Emperor’s blood.
It was entirely possible that instead of taking Imperial Prince Ju Hyeon hostage inside Springview Fortress, they might try to raise him up as Emperor.
Then again, with Springview Fortress shutting out outsiders, they had to be struggling with supply shortages by now.
Of course, there was no chance they’d willingly hand over the goods they’d extorted all this time just for that reason.
At that moment, the silver tael Geumryeong was clutching and the thought that had just occurred to me came together, and a plan took shape.
The next day.
After breakfast, I gathered the Embroidered Guards.
Once everyone had assembled in the meeting room, Gwon Jik asked me,
“Well? What is it?”
“First of all, we need to infiltrate Springview Fortress, don’t we?”
“That’s right.”
“I was thinking it over last night, and I came up with a good method. That’s why I asked all of you to come.”
“Oh? And what method would that be?”
“We fund them.”
“What?”
At my words, So Un flared up and shouted,
“Fund those monsters? Have you lost your mind?”
“Calm yourself!”
Gwon Jik cut in and restrained him.
“You can get angry after you’ve heard the whole thing.”
“…My apologies.”
“Go on.”
At that, I gave a small smile and continued.
“Everything in this world takes money. And the cause they’re pursuing now will need an enormous amount of it.”
“That’s true enough.”
“This all happened suddenly. On top of that, they’re strictly controlling outsiders, which means they’re bound to be short on both goods and money. This is a place that’s been bled dry for a long time, isn’t it?”
At my words, everyone nodded.
“In a situation like that, if the the Eunhae Merchant Group approaches them and offers financial support, it’ll shake them.”
“So in other words, you mean to use deception.”
“That’s right.”
At my answer, So Un, who’d been the first to flare up, cleared his throat.
“Ahem. My apologies.”
“It’s fine. From your perspective, that reaction made perfect sense.”
The moment I looked at him, I finally understood what Young Lady Seohyang’s letter had meant.
[True acting means deceiving even yourself.]
Once we entered Springview Fortress, they would have to act.
Not as Embroidered Guards, but as my escort guards.
And escort guards were men who moved according to their lord’s will. If they kept reacting like this even after we got inside, that would be a problem.
One mistake could get us all killed.
That was why Young Lady Seohyang had given me that advice. True acting meant deceiving even yourself.
So that was the source of the unease I’d been feeling.
Which meant I needed to make this absolutely clear right here.
I looked at him with a cold expression.
“But do you intend to keep flying into a rage and acting on emotion even after we enter Springview Fortress?”
“…?”
“Whether you do that or not, everyone here already knows how loyal you are, So.”
I went on.
“But if you show that kind of reaction inside Springview Fortress, all of our lives will be at risk. Looking only at the result, how would that make you any different from the ones who killed those two warriors before?”
“Don’t compare me to those bastards!”
“No. From where I’m standing, you’re exactly the same. I feel sorry for the others, having to call someone like you a comrade.”
At the same time, So Un drew his sword and slashed it at me.
I had deliberately gotten under his skin, sure, but wow, he was even easier to provoke than I expected.
My escort guards shot to their feet.
“No one interfere!”
At my command, they bit their lips and quickly stepped back.
I dodged So Un’s sword.
“Hiiik!”
Fully enraged, So Un swung at me again. The other warriors tried to stop him, but his eyes had already gone half-mad, and there didn’t seem to be any way to rein him in.
Hmm. Around first-rate, then?
Still, causing a scene like this in a cramped meeting room was a nuisance.
Bang!
I threw open the door and stepped out into the courtyard, and he came charging after me.
Then my escort guards rushed out behind us and evacuated the others.
Even so, So Un showed no sign of calming down.
“You insolent little bastard!”
“Yes, I’m insolent. You only just figured that out?”
“You lowborn merchant cur, who do you think you’re talking to like that?!”
“Then maybe you should’ve behaved well enough that even someone lowborn like me wouldn’t have anything to say.”
“I’m nothing like those men! I’m different!”
“Then act like it.”
“Aaaaargh!”
I kept dodging back and forth while steadily provoking him even more.
Hmm, that should be enough.
“His Majesty’s imperial decree said that, for the purposes of this mission, I hold the same authority as the Embroidered Guard. Which means that even if I lay hands on you, it doesn’t count as treason.”
Naturally, the decree said no such thing.
But the decree had already burned to ashes, so how would they know that?
I drew my sword and infused it with the power of the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art.
True Snow Twelve Form Sword, Third Form. Snowfall.
A heavy sword strike meant to crush the opponent beneath overwhelming force.
“Kh, kgh!”
Unable to endure my sword, So Un lost his grip and dropped his own.
Thud.
But my sword didn’t stop there, and in the end, So Un was forced flat against the ground.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
I crouched in front of him and said,
“Are you ready to listen to what I have to say now?”
“Y, you, no… sir… who exactly are you?”
Fear filled his eyes as he looked at me.
Understandably so. He’d probably never been crushed beneath that kind of pressure before.
Seeing him switch from speaking down to me to speaking politely, it looked like he’d finally come to his senses.
I held out my hand to him.
“Up you go. Someone as important as you shouldn’t be rolling around in the dirt.”
“Ah, yes.”
He rose to his feet, and I brushed the dirt from his clothes. So Un couldn’t even meet my eyes.
I didn’t think I’d pressed him that hard…
Did I let a tiny bit of emotion slip into it without realizing?
Well, whatever. He’d been bristling at everything I said from the start, so it’d probably make things easier later if I put him in his place now.
Young Lady Seohyang had advised me that true acting meant deceiving even yourself.
But what was I supposed to do with someone who couldn’t manage that?
The answer was simple.
Make him do it by force.
“So. I’m speaking seriously now. Keeping your composure matters. If you don’t think you can do that, then stay behind.”
“N, no. I’ll be careful. I was in the wrong. Sorry.”
I smiled.
“Why are you apologizing to me? The people who nearly suffered because of your lack of self-control were your comrades. And by drawing your sword on me, you’ve put them in a very awkward position.”
At my words, So Un turned around and sucked in a breath.
Everyone was looking at him with displeased expressions or sighing at him.
“Ah! M, my apologies!”
He cupped his fist and bowed deeply to them.
“I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Gwon Jik spoke in a cold voice.
“I’ll trust you one more time.”
Watching that, I nodded and said,
“To clear the air a little, let’s take a short break before continuing the meeting.”
“Let’s do that.”
As the other warriors headed back to their quarters, Gwon Jik approached me.
“I find myself in your debt yet again. To be honest, So Un is young, and his hot blood tends to get the better of him.”
I’m young too, though.
Ah… but I had the experience of my previous life, so maybe I wasn’t really that young.
“I’d been meaning to grab him and drill some sense into him myself one day… but this wasn’t the right time, so I thought there was nothing to be done.”
“Right. We’re about to walk into a tiger’s den together, trusting one another. This wasn’t the time to let resentment take root.”
“I’m sorry you had to make yourself the villain.”
“It needed to be done. And since I’m not one of your people, I figured it was better for me to be the one to do it.”
“I truly appreciate you seeing it that way.”
“It was nothing.”
Gwon Jik gave a faint snort of laughter.
“In any case, I made up my mind today. I’m never becoming your enemy.”
“Hm?”
Had he noticed my true level?
“If I fought you, I don’t think I’d die by your sword. I think your words would get under my skin until I burst.”
“…”
“When you get the chance, teach me how you’re so good at getting under people’s skin.”
W, was that a compliment?
It was a compliment, right?
“Then I’ll see you later.”
Gwon Jik headed back to his quarters, and Escort Guard Seo Wu came over to me.
“That was honestly shocking.”
“Yes. Even so, I’m impressed none of you stepped in.”
“Well, we know how strong you are, my lord. And we could tell you were provoking him on purpose.”
Fair enough. They’d been with me for years.
If they didn’t have that much sense by now, they never would’ve lasted this long.
I gave a small chuckle and turned to look at them.
“We’re going inside that place. And there may come a time when you’re separated from me and moving with the warriors instead. If something goes wrong in a situation like that, your lives come first.”
“Yes?”
“Wouldn’t that create problems?”
“Those can be handled somehow. What matters to me is all of you.”
At my words, they looked deeply moved.
“Ah, of course, if the situation allows it, save them and help them too. I fully intend to collect a steep price for it.”
I smirked.
“But what I mean is this – don’t overdo it. Understood?”
“We obey.”
The six Embroidered Guards were gathered in one room.
And one of them stood with his head bowed.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“As long as you understand that, that’s enough.”
“…I won’t act rashly again.”
Since So Un was showing genuine remorse, no one pressed the matter any further.
“Keep your heart under control at all times. Your chest may burn with loyalty, but we must always keep a cold mind.”
At Gwon Jik’s words, he answered sharply,
“Yes! Understood.”
Once that was settled, Cheong Ak asked So Un,
“By the way, was Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho really that strong? Strong enough to flatten you before you could do a thing?”
At the question, So Un shuddered.
“He was terrifying enough that I don’t even want to think about it.”
“Terrifying?”
“The pressure was overwhelming. The feeling of being crushed by it was like… standing before His Majesty himself.”
“To that extent?”
“Yes. But when I stood before His Majesty, I clearly felt that His Majesty was my lord. With Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho, it was different.”
He continued,
“It felt like if I made one wrong move, I’d be devoured. Like I’d become prey.”
At those words, Gwon Jik suddenly remembered something the Emperor had told him when he received this order.
“If you do as that boy says, most things will go smoothly. But don’t try to rein him in, and don’t think of suppressing him the way others do. If you do, he’ll be the one who devours you instead.”
Gwon Jik slowly nodded.
‘As expected, His Majesty was right.’
It was a good thing he had taken the Emperor’s advice seriously. Otherwise, he would’ve been the one rolling on the ground.
–TL Notes–
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