TREASON?

With time, Seunghyeonjeong grew up to be fairer and smarter, he was a very elegant young man and dignified as well.

He studied the languages of the Yis and the Jins and he was brilliant as Lord Han saw that he would make a very fine and intelligent young boy.

His knowledge and wisdom surpassed that of common children and as he flourished in grace, his charm captivated many wherever he went.

One morning, the young Master was seated in the courtyard while sharpening his father's sword.

Immediately after he had finished, his father turned up unexpectedly.

"Seunghyeon." He called him by name.

The young boy turned around and was surprised as well as overjoyed to behold the presence of his father.

"Father?" he gladly called out to his old man.

"To what do I owe to the pleasure of you sharpening my sword?" Lord Han asked.

"My father travels day and night, protects and mans this house every time, a filial son like me can simply sharpen this sword as a way to show my heartfelt gratitude." Seunghyeon said.

"I am more than pleased that my son cares so much about me." Lord Han said.

"But I won't always be there to protect you I fear." Lord Han said.

"When you are gone father, I shall watch and protect your household for you." Seunghyeonjeong said.

Lord Han smiled as he took hold of his son's head and caressed it gently.

Looking into the eyes of his young son he could only imagine how lucky he was until suddenly his expression turned bitter.

"What is it father, what is bothering you?" Seunghyeonjeong asked quickly noticing that something was amiss and the situation wasn't the very best.

"Perhaps I should tell him." Lord Han thought.

His memory keen enough to remember those words that had haunted him for the past eight years.

"Nothing." Lord Han said after finding so much hesitation in him.

"Perhaps you need to learn the way of the sword, to protect yourself and your loved ones from the arrows of your foes." Lord Han said.

The expression on his son's face changed all of a sudden that time around that Lord Han became curious and asked.

"Many children tend to get excited when they hear the news about learning swordsmanship, why do you have to be sulky?" Lord Han asked his son.

"Pardon my insolence father, I am sorry I kept this a secret from you." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"And what is it that you did wrong this time around?" Lord Han asked.

"I never considered that father's kindness would be immeasurable and I decided to learn the art of swordsmanship behind your back." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

Lord Han was surprised to hear what his son had spoken.

"And since when did you start to train the sword?" Lord Han asked.

"Two years ago father, I watched as Master Shin and Master Li Qing trained some of the guards in the backyard every day.

I copied them from the other side of the pavilion and trained personally behind it every night." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

"How could a six year old like yourself at that moment perfectly recall the posture and fighting techniques that are taught to the youth and adults?" Lord Han asked.

"When they are always training, the masters always describe the perfect postures in which we can possibly take action.

I heed their words and read books about the various Martial arts from Jiutsu and Jin." Seunghyeonjeong replied.

"That is impossible." Lord Han said.

"Show me what it is that you learnt with my very own sword." Lord Han added.

"If you say so father." Seunghyeonjeong said as he gracefully stood up and took the sword firmly into his grip.

He waved it around cutting through the air with his feet lightly dancing on the ground in the most formidable footwork that his father had ever seen.

Everything from the way that Seunghyeonjeong moved the sword along with his fists to how he flew shortly in the air despite being given a difficult time by the heavy sword was an amazing Spectre.

Lord Han had never seen a skilled eight year old like his son and much as Seungnyang was three years older than Seunghyeonjeong, he was far behind in his training of the sword.

The moment that Seunghyeonjeong had wound up showing his father some tricks, he stopped and bowed his head in respect as his father applauded him.

"That was impressive." Lord Han said to his son.

"If father is impressed I am honoured." Lord Han said.

"Then come with me to the Office of the Inspector General tomorrow and you could pick up something from the skills that we teach our guards." Lord Han said.

"It shall be my pleasure." Seunghyeonjeong quickly consented to his father's call.

"Seunghyeon?" Lady Kim called him eventually.

"Yes mother?" Seunghyeonjeong replied as he headed off towards his mother.

Lord Han was left puzzled and he still had a hard time processing everything that had just happened and at that believing it.

"You are extra ordinary." Lord Han said to himself as he watched his son vanishing from his sight.

"I hope that you aren't set for any trouble." He prayed inside.

Early the next day, Lady Han stood at the entrance of the Han Manor to send off her husband and youngest son.

"Stay safe." she told Lord Han as she embraced him in a soft hug before turning to her son and doing the same thing.

Eventually, the two climbed into the carriage and the carriers lifted it as they started heading for the Office of the Inspector General.

Seunghyeonjeong barely left his residence and it was during travels like that when he looked around the city and mused there for a while.

It bustled greatly of the noises of merchants and animals and sale yet the view was colourful seeing all those people dressed in brightly colored clothes Seunghyeonjeong always thought.

"What are you looking at?" Lord Han asked his son noticing that his attention was amiss.

"Looking at the people." Seunghyeonjeong innocently replied.

"The spectacle is indeed a Marvellous one." Lord Han said.

"Makes me wish I could leave home and visit outside regularly." Seunghyeonjeong said.

"It isn't really safe for children of Ministers like myself and other nobles to move outside of their residences without the protection of an adult.

We can't always guarantee that you will be much better off since even children get abducted in demand of high ransoms." Lord Han said.

After a short while, they arrived outside the office of the Inspector General and Lord Han was welcomed by one of his Juniors.

"Minister Han." Lord Geum said as he bowed his head.

"A good morning to you." Lord Han said as he bowed to offer his salutations.

"Good morning." Seunghyeonjeong said after his father.

"Is this your son?" Lord Geum asked.

"My third and my joy." Lord Han introduced him.

"Seunghyeonjeong." He added.

"It is my pleasure to meet you sir." Seunghyeonjeong said calmly.

"He really takes after his father so much." Lord Geum said.

"Every one says so." Lord Han said as they continued inside the building which was filled with a number of servants loitering about and doing their own chores.

"So, is there anything that is urgent as of today?" Lord Han asked as he stepped into his office with Lord Geum leaving his son waiting outside.

"We have a bit of a problem." Lord Geum replied.

"What is it?" Lord Han asked.

"Minister Park was arrested by the King's troops yesterday for having embezzled most of the money that was supposed to go to the construction of the Hannam Bridge." Lord Geum replied.

"The King must have been furious." Lord Han said.

"That should be your least concern at the moment." Lord Geum said.

"Why is that?" Lord Han asked.

"Because apparently, he was having connections with foreigners and some wealthy traders here in the capital all in which they were planning revolution." Lord Geum said.

"Why would there be a revolution?" Lord Han asked.

"We are all aware just now that there are claims that the King sat on the throne through blood, most other Princes of other concubines were assassinated not long before his Ascension.

There is a belief that they have their descendants out on the search for vengeance and the need to overthrow the King." Lord Geum said.

"You know his Majesty like I do, he is always unmoved by such opinions and the rumours would be false." Lord Han said.

"You should be afraid." Lord Geum said.

"Why is that?" Lord Han asked.

"Apparently, the usurpers are strongly linked with the Hans and most of the people in the government suspect that you could be caught in between their troubles." Lord Geum said.

"What?" Lord Han said surprised.

"But why is that?" Lord Han asked.

"You are a distant cousin of the King given that your great grand mother was the daughter of a concubine, secondly, you are from the pure bloodline of the Imperial Han ancestry.

Whether you deny that fact or not you are going to still be caught in this matter unless you sever all your connections with the Hans and get to the route of this treason plot." Lord Geum said.

"That's impossible." Lord Han said.

"So what if the Hans are involved in this plot?" The King asked Prime Minister Hong Kojeong.

"Your Majesty, you need to be very careful of the Inspector General and his entire office." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong replied.

"And do you have any proof whatsoever to apprehend him for this?" The King asked.

"I am suspicious your Majesty." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong replied.

"We are all suspicious every time,a treason plot is not something in which the Minister Han could indulge himself." King Gwangyang said.

"Because you are overly confident your Majesty." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong said.

"Then tell me, have I been wrong in my judgement before, there is a possibility that it is someone from the Royal lineage that is instigating this treason plot.

You said it yourself that the ring leaders and chiefs of it are suspected to be descendants of the deceased Princes of the King's blood that had no claim on the throne." King Gwangyang said.

"And it is linked to the Hans, who more than they would hate you so much after nearly three centuries of the succession wars.

Given that the Inspector General shares the same blood as you and he is a Han gives more reason for suspicion that he is behind all of this.

Hans dominate in the State council your Majesty, the Ministry of Defence, the office of the Inspector General and the office of Censors.

You are aware that these are basically the primary sources of your power and influence which when controlled could have you put out your Majesty.

It is with my deep concern and my desire to see this country thrive that I am asking you to reconsider." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong said.

"Can I ask you a question?" King Gwangyang said.

"Yes your Majesty." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong replied.

"If you were supposedly right and I apprehended Minister Han for the treason plot, what could the aftermath be?" The King asked.

"He would be stripped of his titles and declared an enemy of the state." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong replied.

"I hear he is beloved of the people so we both understand the position it puts him in in case there was an attempt to take over the throne." King Gwangyang said.

"Which we are trying to prevent your Majesty." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong said.

"Supposedly he is not interested in what we are all hearing and despite apprehension he is freed from the prison by the traitors and insurgents?" King Gwangyang asked.

"He'd have all the more reason to revolt." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong replied.

"Exactly, don't you see that to prevent that, it is much better to prevent becoming distant with him which could force him to become an enemy.

We both know better than anyone else once he becomes an enemy of the state then he would have crossed a bridge without return." King Gwangyang said.

"That way, the treason plot would have lost purpose and you wouldn't have aided it an become Minister Han's aid." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong said.

"Exactly." King Gwangyang said.

"Your Majesty is indeed sage but what shall we do to foil up this treason plot?" The Prime Minister Hong Kojeong asked.

"We shall lure the insurgents and revolters out one by one." King Gwangyang replied with a smile on his face.

"How?" Prime Minister Hong Kojeong asked.

"Fighting fire with fire, I shall use the revolters own sword against them." King Gwangyang said.

"You're not implying that?" Prime Minister Hong Kojeong said.

"Yes, Minister Han will be the sword I use." King Gwangyang replied.

"I can't turn my back on my ancestry nor can I sever my connections to my clan, I'd rather be apprehended." Lord Han said.

"And risk your family's safety?" Lord Geum asked.

"There has to be a way around this." Lord Han said.

"Win the King's absolute trust and capture the real conspirators of this treason plot, prove your sincerity both to the King and to the State.

It is the last resort other than that that you can get yourself off the hook, save your family and make yourself a hero amongst the people." Lord Geum said.

"Do you think the King will believe me?" Lord Han asked.

"Who wouldn't believe a man who turns his back on greed for power and sacrifices his own self pleasure for someone else?" Lord Geum asked.

"Even the Royal Clan could use this chance to grow less suspicious of you." Lord Geum added.

"I see." Lord Han replied as he thought out a way that he'd save himself from the danger that was headed his way and at the same time manouver the rising accusations from the Royal Clan.

Amidst all that was going on Seunghyeonjeong who waiting outside looked around and judging from what he was hearing, his father and his family were in danger because of something they did not do.