THE KING'S OFFER

It had been a week after the lantern festival and Lord Han was standing outside on the balcony while embracing his son.

Seunghyeonjeong had already grown some hair and had flourished fairer with every other day that went by.

"It is remarkable how you love to play with him that much." Lady Kim said.

"He is my joy after all." Lord Han said.

"It's only been seven days, it is quite amazing how fast he has grown." Lady Kim said.

"He takes after his mother." Lord Han said.

"Are you saying that I am old?" Lady Kim said.

"I am saying that you are still looking young." Lord Han replied.

After a while, Mr. Song walked towards them.

"My Lord, my lady." He called out of utmost humility and respect.

"What is it Mr. Song?" Lord Han asked.

"What is so important that you choose to see me during such an intimate hour?" He added.

"There is an envoy, a messenger from the palace." Mr. Song replied.

"He must be here on the Queen's behalf." Lady Kim said.

"He is here on the King's order and he's requested your presence, he has some bit of news to deliver to you personally." Mr. Song said.

"The King?" Lord Han asked a little bit surprised.

"Yes Sir." Mr. Song replied.

"I understand, I'll be there in a while." Lord Han said.

"Alright My Lord." Mr. Song said as he bowed down his head and withdrew from his Master's presence.

"You give me the child." Lady Kim said.

"I want to hold him a little bit longer." Lord Han said.

"Don't be rude, it is very awful to keep the King's messenger waiting." Lady Kim said as she took the child carefully from her husband's grip.

"Alright, if you say so, I shall be back soon." Lord Han said.

"Take care." Lady Kim said as her husband departed and walked down the stairs leaving his son to the embrace of his mother.

Lord Han arriving downstairs was met by a face that was in deed very familiar to him.

"Lord Cha?" He said a little bit surprised and overwhelmed with so much joy.

"Greetings Lord Han." the man said as he bowed his head.

"And the King also sends you his very best regards." Lord Cha added.

"I am overjoyed to see you here, it has been a long time." Lord Han said as he embraced Lord Cha and pulled him into a hug.

"My apologies that so turned up unexpectedly and I couldn't celebrate the lantern feast you had." Lord Cha said.

"All that matters is that it is you who is here right now, come on in." Lord Han said as he led Lord Cha inside into his study.

When the two were inside, they sat down.

"Have some tea and snacks prepared for us Mr. Song." Lord Han said.

"Yes My Lord." Mr. Song said as he walked out of the study sliding the doors behind himself leaving the two to a private conversation.

"Congratulations, I heard your wife safely delivered another son." Lord Cha.

"Yes, I had hoped so much that it'd be a girl but turns out the heavens wanted me to have sons alone." Lord Han said.

"Your wife is still very young, she can ably deliver another child." Lord Cha said.

"We are not women, child birth wears them out and each and every time it is more and more difficult for her to deliver, she loses so much blood." Lord Han said.

"You are wealthy enough to get a young and beautiful concubine." Lord Cha said.

"Hahahaha." Lord Han laughed.

"In my heart, there is only room for one woman and that will never at any one point in this life change." Lord Han said.

"I wish I had that same faithfulness." Lord Cha said.

"Besides, Seungjae and Seungnyang may be my pride but when it comes to Seunghyeonjeong, he will certainly be my joy." Lord Han said.

"Then allow me to get to the point." Lord Cha said.

"What is it that his Majesty wishes to convey to me?" Lord Han asked.

"You are in deed a vary lucky man that very many people would give up everything to be blessed the very way that you are." Lord Cha said.

"Drop it and get straight to the point." Lord Han said.

"His Majesty wants to have you promoted." Lord Cha said.

Lord Han was shocked and he went silent for a while as he seemed to wonder what was going on.

"Did I hear you right?" Lord Han asked.

"Yes you heard it right." Lord Cha said.

"You know his Majesty, he sees talent firsthand and he sows where he deems to be fruitful, in matters such as choosing his ministers, he is never wrong." Lord Cha said.

"What talents do I possess, I am merely a recent records officer, I'm even lower without any political qualifications." Lord Han said.

"But you managed to be very successful in trade, who doesn't know you here in the capital, you were once a mayor after all and you are equally powerful." Lord Cha said.

"My Knowledge is limited to the financial and business fields, politics aren't really in my best interests." Lord Han said.

"You managed to secure yourself a private army, you have maintained foreign relations with other traders that the King sees a possible ally in you.

You could be the one man he trusts and we both know that the King's trust is one of the hardest but best things to find." Lord Cha said.

"Are you aware the reason why I quit my position as a Mayor ten years ago?" Lord Han asked Lord Cha.

"Enlighten me." Lord Cha said.

"You are aware of the murders of the Haeji officials, if I hadn't fled way earlier than all my comrades, I would have been six feet under the ground." Lord Han said.

"But the people didn't seem to have a problem with you, you were a favorite of the masses and your justice was uncorrupted." Lord Cha said.

"It doesn't change the fact that blood was shed and people still died." Lord Han said.

"Try and reconsider the benefits that could come from it." Lord Cha said.

"There are no benefits, the fact that I still work in Haeji frightens me enough, people know nothing of what happens in the government.

There are corrupt and uncorrupt officials so if tables turn even the Innocents get misbranded and misunderstood." Lord Han said.

"Things change." Lord Cha said.

"Lucky for you, you are from the Cha family, look at me, if the people don't envy me other officials will, heaven knows what they might do.

I am a pure blood Han descended from the father of King Jungjae, they only see me as a threat to the Royal dynasty.

Even if the King embraced me as his own I can't be sure it's because he doesn't suspect that I have ulterior motives of ceasing power." Lord Han said.

"Please, I am only being a friend and trying to help you." Lord Cha said.

"I can't accept the King's offer." Lord Han said.

"We both know that politics is a dirty game in which even innocent lives are laid down and taken,it is not more than a fountain that gushes with blood.

You either gain all or lose all and I am a husband and a father of three children not older than eight years,I can not risk the lives of my family members for the sake of my personal gain." Lord Han said.

"And don't you think that if you declined the King's offer it would only put your family in even more grave danger?" Lord Cha asked.

"Why, what do you mean by that?" Lord Han asked.

"The King is offering you a chance to become your shield and even prove his family wrong.

By this time around he has already realized you have no ulterior motives having spent a long time without engaging in politics but do you think that the Royal Clan thinks that?" Lord Cha asked.

"Why, isn't my silence already good enough a reason to justify my innocence?" Lord Han asked.

"You are very successful a trader both far and near, many fear that you have monopolized trade in the capital.

Additionally you own a private army, the largest in the kingdom to be owned by a non government official as your own soldiers are well trained with martial arts from all neighboring kingdoms.

Yes you are a silent man but even the successful give their enemies a chance to instigate false and baseless flaws that could cost tens of lives.

Where then do you begin from to save yourself if not by the grace of his Majesty the King?" Lord Cha asked.

"And how would me accepting the King's hand and offer save me the burden of dying an awful fate?" Lord Han asked.

"Think about it, you have no reason to be held guilty and charged with treason but if you refuse the King's offer then you will lose your head as well as your family." Lord Cha said.

"Why is that?" Lord Han asked.

"The King earlier in the week called for the court to gather and all officials in which he announced that he had decided since you were the most loyal and trustworthy Mayor of Haeji, he would make you the Inspector General.

You are to be placed in charge of the Office of the Inspector General since you know best how to do away with corruption." Lord Cha said.

"What?" Lord Han said as he rose up from where he was seated.

"Don't refuse this and give the Royal Clan and nobility a chance to call you a rebel, please just embrace it and save yourself as well as supporting your family." Lord Cha said.

"So my own consent isn't necessary?" Lord Han asked.

"I am deeply sorry if you feel offended." Lord Cha said.

"You shouldn't be, you have done nothing wrong my friend, perhaps it is only because I am constantly reminded that we are only servants and not leaders in our own right." Lord Han said.

"I can try my best to plead with the King on your behalf so that he can withdraw his offer but I can not guarantee that he'll quickly change his mind." Lord Cha said.

"You do notice that I am already here and I have crossed a bridge without return, I could imprint on my family the most awful brands if I do so." Lord Han said.

"So what will you do?" Lord Cha asked.

"It is meaningless to cross the bridge halfway and jump off into the river, I will just reach out to the other side since this isn't something that can be undone." Lord Han replied.

"I hope your family takes this in good faith." Lord Cha said.

"My children can understand but I fear that my wife will grow furious and worried at the same time yet that is probably the last thing I need." Lord Han said.

"I'll be here to support you when you need me but is there anything that I should tell his Majesty on your behalf?" Lord Cha asked.

"His Majesty's grace is immeasurable and I am to his service and his alone, my only wish is that he can guarantee me the security of my family from other officials." Lord Han said.

"I will put in the word for you and in due course,you might meet with the King face to face, maximize and also carefully use his grace." Lord Cha said.

"I understand, is there anything that politicians do not do to achieve their motives and primary goals?" Lord Han asked.

"Of course there is,but what is yours?" Lord Cha asked.

"Isn't it quite obvious?" Lord Han replied.

"I might be confused." Lord Cha said.

"My family's security above all else, that is my primary motive and purpose I swore to fulfill throughout my life." Lord Han replied.

"Very well then, I suppose that concludes our meeting, I shall tell the King." Lord Cha said.

"Please do." Lord Han said as they all bowed to one another.

"I'll take my leave." Lord Cha said as he turned around and departed from the study leaving the young Lord Han puzzled and curious at the same time.

"What are you planning your Majesty, you couldn't simply appoint me without reason, I know you far too well." Lord Han thought to himself.

He was still lost in thought when his wife walked in suddenly with the baby at hand.

"What did you talk about that makes you look so worried?" Lady Kim asked.

"It is the King." Lord Han replied.

"What is with the King?" Lady Kim asked as she Drew closer to her husband.

"He proposed to parliament and said he was appointing me the Inspector General." Lord Han said.

"Goodness." Lady Kim said so shocked.

"Yes, apparently, this time around, I become a politician again." Lord Han added with a look of worry on his face.

No one knew better than him that the King was not an easy man, to everything he did he had a reason and it was obvious that Lord Han had been set on a path with many foes coming his way, could the old man's prophecy be coming true much much sooner than they had expected?

One way or another, they needed to be prepared for the worst that was to come their way and Lord Han seemed to be unwavered and more than ready.