The Poetry and Prose Competition’s winner had been decided.
The winner’s name was Mun Jin.
He was one of the five disciples who were resposible for the critic murder.
And the other four disciples also achieved excellent results.
Inwardly, I offered them my condolences.
Because it was obvious they would soon be dragged off by the Emperor and worked half to death from overwork.
His Majesty truly was something else.
To think he would use my request for leniency to secure benefits for himself.
Of course, those benefits weren’t purely for private gain. They were private gains meant to serve the public good.
After all, the common people would live more comfortably if there were more diligent and sharp-minded people in public office.
Besides, their leashes had been fastened so tightly that they wouldn’t dare harbor any other thoughts.
And the moment they did harbor even the slightest crooked thought, it would be the death penalty.
“So, why exactly are you refusing to become my successor?”
Lord Bang Hyo-myeong had been coming to see me whenever he had the chance, trying to persuade me to become his successor.
Each time, I had politely refused, and I was refusing even now.
“I’m grateful that you would think of me as your successor, but no matter how I look at it, I don’t believe that name is one I should take.”
“That’s what I’m asking. Why not?”
“I’m busy.”
“Busy?”
“Yes. I’m far too busy to polish that name and make it shine. I do have my hands in all sorts of things, but as you know, I’m a merchant.”
I explained my work to him.
“On top of that, there’s also the matter His Majesty entrusted to me.”
“Mm. That is true.”
I was already a Censorate Inspector, and His Majesty kept handing me one task after another.
“In a situation like that, how could I possibly make more time? I only have one body, after all…”
“You were busier than I thought.”
“Yes.”
I cautiously asked him.
“By the way, why don’t you pass that name down to your own children, my lord?”
“Ah… those brats?”
Lord Bang Hyo-myeong explained as though it were nothing worth dwelling on.
“First of all, they aren’t suited for it.”
“When I met them before, they seemed rather intelligent.”
“Not as much as you.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be better for your descendants to inherit it?”
“I do have affection for my own blood, so I asked them directly once. I asked if they wanted to inherit my name. And they said no.”
“Why did they say no?”
“They said it was too much pressure.”
“…”
I was speechless.
“Why do you think it wouldn’t be too much pressure for me?”
“Because you’re a shameless bastard.”
It went beyond speechless and straight into absurd.
At that moment, Geumryeong, who was inside my sleeve, sent me a Voice Transmission.
– Kui!
Geumryeong. Be quiet.
I stroked Geumryeong’s back, and Geumryeong trembled.
Good. Now it was finally quiet.
“It’s too much pressure for me too, you know?”
“It isn’t pressure. You just find it bothersome.”
Kugh!
How did he know?
“In any case, if it’s you, I believe you could inherit my name without disgracing it.”
“No, my lord.”
I shook my head.
“If I receive that name, I’ll use it to my heart’s content until I’ve worn it down to nothing. I am quite shameless, after all.”
“You really hold a grudge, don’t you?”
“You didn’t know?”
“No, I know very well. Still, I’ve never seen a man who admits he holds grudges stab someone in the back.”
Well, that was true.
If someone had emotions, there was no way they didn’t hold onto things at least a little.
But when a person claimed, with their own mouth, that they never held grudges?
That was a lie.
“I have nothing to say to that. What happens if I keep refusing?”
“…”
Lord Bang hesitated, clearly troubled.
And naturally so, since he couldn’t use methods like kidnapping, confinement, or threats on me.
“You have no way, do you?”
“I do have one.”
“Then why are you hesitating?”
Lord Bang let out a light sigh and said,
“I would earnestly petition His Majesty, saying that Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho’s abilities are far too outstanding, and that leaving him as a mere merchant as he is now would be a loss to the nation.”
“…”
Cold sweat ran down my back.
Lord Bang was the Minister of Justice and an official favored by the Emperor.
If he earnestly submitted that petition, the Emperor would pretend he had no choice but to accept it and issue me an Imperial Decree.
“The reason I hesitated was only because, if I used that method, you would resent me for it.”
You understand me too well.
“The truth is, the reason I want to make you my successor is because I can’t think of anyone who would use this better than you. No matter how excellent a tool may be, it will rust if you shove it into a closet and leave it there. A fine tool is meant to be used.”
“…”
“So use the title of my successor as much as you like. I won’t say a word about it. No, rather, that’s exactly what I want!”
“…”
When he went that far, I could no longer refuse.
And honestly, Lord Bang Hyo-myeong’s name value was extremely useful.
The Sixth-Sense Duke was not exactly a minor figure.
“Understood.”
“So with my name as the Sixth-Sense Duke, there won’t be anywhere you can’t pass throug…”
“I said I understand. I’ll become your successor.”
“What? Truly?”
“Yes. Truly.”
“Hahahaha! Thank you!”
No, was this really something to be that thankful about?
“Honestly, if a person is born into this world, it is only right that he leaves his name behind! And the best way to leave one’s name behind is to leave a successor who will carry that name forward.”
So Lord Bang cared about that sort of thing too.
“Look forward to it! I’ll have a truly impressive plaque made for you!”
“Why would I need a plaque?”
“Now, now! What kind of nonsense is that? Do you think people will believe you are my successor just because you say so, without even a proper identification plaque?”
“But people won’t know that the plaque indicates your successor, my lord.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll have word sent to every place connected to the Ministry of Justice.”
“…”
How thorough.
In truth, among the places where the Sixth-Sense Duke’s name would be needed, there were almost none that had nothing to do with the Ministry of Justice.
In other words, my name would spread throughout the entire Empire…
This is fine, right?
“Let’s see… what shape should it be to make it look impressive?”
It seemed he was rather excited now that I had agreed to become his successor.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Yes, please take care on your way back.”
After seeing Lord Bang off, I returned to the Beijing Branch. When I did, Palgap looked at me with pity and said,
“Just how many things are you carrying now, Young Master?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even want to count.”
In any case, the Poetry and Prose Competition had ended, but I still hadn’t been able to meet Young Lady Seohyang or the Guizhou’s Provincial Administration Commissioner since that one time before.
They said he was leaving tomorrow.
Haa. This wouldn’t do.
I would have to create an opportunity myself.
After thinking for a moment, a clever idea came to me.
Guizhou’s Provincial Administration Commissioner Dong Hwi looked up at the sky.
The moon hung high above.
Once tomorrow came, he would have to return to Guizhou.
Since he held the office of Provincial Administration Commissioner, he couldn’t leave his post vacant for long.
The major events, the Tasting Competition and the Poetry and Prose Competition, had ended, so there was no longer any justification for him to remain in Beijing.
He gazed outside and sighed.
“Haa, that damn brat…”
Before returning to Guizhou, he wanted to see his daughter’s face at least one more time, but there was an obstacle.
It was none other than his eldest son, Dong Hyeok-su.
Because she had been avoiding his son’s eyes, he had unintentionally failed to meet his daughter until now.
Perhaps Dong Hyeok-su had noticed something, because whenever Dong Hwi tried to go outside, he stuck to him.
He looked hot-blooded on the surface, but he was sharper than expected, so Dong Hwi had to be careful.
He couldn’t exactly tell him, “The truth is, your younger sister is alive.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his son. It was because his sons adored their little sister far too much, and he feared that the truth of her survival might leak to their enemies through them.
That was when it happened.
“My lord. A letter has arrived.”
As those words were spoken, the door opened, and an attendant offered him a letter.
“Yes. Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho sent this letter.”
Dong Hwi quickly took the letter and opened it. Soon, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“Tell the one who brought this letter that I understand.”
“Yes. Understood.”
“And make preparations to go out.”
“Yes.”
A short while later.
When Dong Hwi was about to leave the estate, Dong Hyeok-su followed him out.
“Where are you going, Father?”
“Are you planning to escort me again today?”
“Of course.”
“I told you I don’t need it.”
“Please don’t coldly reject this son’s filial devotion.”
…
“Hoo, fine.”
Dong Hwi shook his head and left the estate, and Dong Hyeok-su followed after him.
And a short while later.
“…!”
Dong Hyeok-su could not hide his bewilderment.
“F-F-F-Father. Where in the world is this?”
“Where else? You can see for yourself.”
“…”
The signboard hanging on the splendid building before them read [Spring Dream Pavilion].
That’s right. The place they had come to was a Pleasure House.
“Why have you come to a Pleasure House?”
“What, am I not allowed to come here?”
“Mother will be heartbroken if she finds out.”
“You’re misunderstanding something. This place is famous for its courtesans, yes, but its food is also exceptional.”
“Pardon?”
“Let’s go.”
The place they headed to was Spring Dream Pavilion’s annex.
A man was waiting for them there.
“Welcome.”
“Have you been waiting long?”
“Not at all.”
When Dong Hyeok-su saw Jin Yeong, he immediately cupped his fist and greeted him.
“Great Hero, it is an honor to see you. I had no idea today’s meeting was with you.”
“This is a secret gathering, so I told them not to inform you.”
“I see.”
At those words, Dong Hyeok-su misunderstood and assumed this meeting had been arranged by the Emperor.
After all, a secret gathering mentioned by a Warrior of the Embroidered Guard could only mean that.
“So keep this meeting confidential.”
“Of course.”
“Still, I’m glad to see you as well. Then we’ll need to add another seat.”
Jin Yeong pulled the bell cord to call the waiter and had another seat prepared.
“I apologize for causing trouble.”
“Not at all. Adding one more person is hardly difficult.”
Jin Yeong waved off Dong Hyeok-su’s apology and invited them to sit.
Then they chatted about this and that as they drank tea.
‘Mm?’
But Dong Hyeok-su began to feel something strange.
Sleep kept pouring over him, and his eyes kept trying to close.
And finally.
Thud!
His head dropped onto the table, and he fell asleep.
Kuu…
Seeing that, Jin Yeong grinned broadly.
“As expected, this sleeping drug works wonderfully. You can come out now.”
At those words, Eun Seo-ho appeared.
There was one special thing in Spring Dream Pavilion’s annex.
A hidden closet.
It was just large enough for two or so people to enter, and it was used for all sorts of purposes.
Because I knew about it, I had hidden inside with Young Lady Seohyang, and while we waited, Warrior Jin Yeong had made Young Lord Dong Hyeok-su drink drugged tea and put him soundly to sleep.
I cupped my fist to him and expressed my gratitude.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Jin Yeong.”
“Thanks to you, I avoided losing face before His Majesty. How could I not offer this much help in return?”
“Hahaha.”
“Besides, this is hardly the first thing I owe you for.”
“As I told you before, that matter is a secret.”
“Of course.”
After saying that, Warrior Jin Yeong lightly patted my shoulder and left the annex.
Now I had to accomplish the purpose for which I had brought the Guizhou’s Provincial Administration Commissioner here.
I spoke toward the closet at the back.
“Please come out.”
Soon, Young Lady Seohyang emerged dressed in men’s clothes.
The Provincial Administration Commissioner and Young Lady Seohyang held each other’s hands without saying a word.
How could I possibly describe the tenderness between them?
After looking at each other for a long while, the Provincial Administration Commissioner turned to me and said,
“Thank you truly for taking such care with this.”
“Please don’t mention it. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize.”
I continued.
“Next time, we will go to Guizhou.”
“If you do that, I’ll be the one grateful. But the problem is my sons.”
“I’ll find a way to handle that. Now then, please have your meal.”
And so, the Guizhou’s Provincial Administration Commissioner and Young Lady Seohyang sat across from each other and ate.
It was a warm father-daughter meal, their first in a very long time.
I left the annex, closed the door, and looked up at the sky.
I felt rather proud.
.
.
.
As the Third Month drew to a close, the air slowly began to fill with the feeling of spring.
And thanks to steady practice, my Great Yue Language had reached a level where I could communicate to some extent.
Escort Guard Yong Min was greatly surprised by this.
“You are learning incredibly fast. Are you a genius?”
At that, I chuckled.
“Escort Guard Yong Min, you’re learning the Imperial Language quite quickly yourself.”
“I studied hard.”
He truly lived every day with everything he had.
That sight of his motivated me as well.
I looked at the kiln that had been prepared in one corner of the Beijing Branch.
There, they were making liquor bottles to export to foreign lands, including Great Yue Kingdom and Maraeseo Kingdom.
Merchant Lord Go and the Mudong Merchant Group’s Deputy Merchant Lord had joined forces and worked hard to make the bottles, and thanks to them, we had managed to create splendid porcelain bottles.
As expected, leaving the work to Merchant Lord Go had been the right choice.
It felt as though a favorable wind was blowing in from somewhere.
“Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“Yes?”
Just then, Young Lady Seohyang called me from behind.
She smiled and politely thanked me.
“I truly wanted to thank you.”
She was thanking me for arranging things so she could enjoy a quiet meal with the Guizhou’s Provincial Administration Commissioner this time.
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes. Very much.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“To be honest, I never expected that I would be able to share a meal with my father.”
“Next time, I’ll try to arrange a meal where your whole family can gather together.”
“Thank you.”
For some reason, her smile made my heart pound.
“Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s time for you to work. There are many approval documents piled up.”
“…”
But at her next words, my heart settled right back down.
Young Lady Seohyang was truly firm when it came to work.
Had I worked for about two or three hours after that?
Suddenly, I sensed a familiar presence.
Huh? Why is this Qi… What’s going on?
A short while later, the door burst open, and Palgap rushed in.
“Young Master! A guest has arrived, sir.”
–TL Notes–
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