THE ACCOUNT

"You are free to go." The Commander of the Imperial guards in charge of the Office of the Inspector General.

"What happened?" Lord Han asked.

"The culprit behind the treason plot was discovered." The Commander replied.

"Really?" Lord Han asked.

"Yes." The Commander replied.

"Where is he?" Lord Han asked.

"He along with a few of his followers, they committed suicide in the courtyard of the Inspector General's office." The Commander replied.

"Suicide?" Lord Han asked uncertain if he had heard well.

"Yes." The Commander replied.

Lord Han then thought about it deeply.

"Aren't you going to ask me who the culprit was?" The Commander said.

"Who was it?" Lord Han asked.

"Minister Geum Seolyeon." The Commander replied.

Lord Han didn't seem surprised by it.

"What more happened and with whom was he working with?" Lord Han asked.

"I don't know, the blame is believed to be entirely on him." The Commander said.

"So is that the reason that the King set me free?" Lord Han asked.

"Yes." The Commander replied.

"Clothes have already been prepared for you so that you may leave and we apologise for any inconveniences this might have caused you." The Commander said.

"I have a favor to ask of you." Lord Han said suddenly.

"What is it that you wish me to help you with?" The Commander asked.

"Please, make haste and take me to the King, I need to talk to him immediately." Lord Han said.

"What?" The Commander said.

"I need to see the King first thing before I can return home to my family." Lord Han said.

"Alright then, but you must first dress up what has been prepared for you." The Commander said.

"Alright." Lord Han replied as he bowed to the Commander and then walked out of the confinement room.

"The culprit was caught your Majesty." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong said.

"Who was it?" King Gwangyang asked.

"Minister Geum Seolyeon of the Office of the Inspector General." Prime Minister Hong Kojeong replied.

"Have you had the other officials searched thoroughly?" King Gwangyang asked.

"Not yet Sire but I can assure you that if you order, it shall in deed be done." Prime Minister Hong said.

"Don't bother." The King replied.

The Prime Minister was shocked immediately.

"What, why your Majesty if I may ask?" The Prime Minister Hong asked.

"If a Minister is discovered in a treason plot, whom does that implicate?" King Gwangyang asked.

"The Office, if not the ministry or at times the whole government." The Prime Minister replied.

"Eventually, Innocents would get involved in the worst case that is possible, the movement members would not simply watch as they are being searched.

Definitely, they might frame Innocents to get away and might lose the last of people that are still loyal to the crown.

In the meantime, those traitors shall multiply and take over power as soon as possible which is the primary reason we must prevent.

I don't care how hard it is but not in my reign or the reign of my Children shall this country and Kingdom see it's downfall.

If we don't check, we could as well place all the crimes of the uprising on the late Minister Geum Seolyeon's shoulders.

That way we can keep our enemies in check." The King said.

"But then your Majesty, we cannot just look the other side after all that has happened." The Prime Minister Hong said.

"Hire the best assassins in the Kingdom and have them watch every one of the officials in the government from the high ranking ones to the lowest.

I shall have them all monitored time to time and their movements shall have to be reported to me by the Inspector General himself." The King replied.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider, there are other men in the court and Ministers like Jang that you trust, why then would you entrust such a critical matter to him?" Prime Minister Hong asked.

"Do you question my decision and my ways and thoughts?" The King asked.

"No, your Majesty is sage, I have seen none as wise as you are Sire." Prime Minister Hong replied.

"Then if you are curious may be I shall tell you." King Gwangyang said.

"Enlighten this your Humble servant your Majesty." Prime Minister Hong said.

"Does the sparrow move when watched by the sparrow?" The King asked.

"No." The Prime Minister replied.

"That's it." The King said.

"Are you saying that you want to use someone that the Movement might trust to apprehend it?" Prime Minister Hong asked.

"Not just to suppress it, it would be very nice if I had someone on the inside so that I can foil my enemy and be a step ahead after knowing their plans." King Gwangyang asked.

"But your Majesty, how sure can you be that the sword that you are holding is not double edged, that it can be tamed?" Prime Minister Hong asked.

"Come to think of it this way then, after what has happened wouldn't Minister Han's family be in danger?" The King asked.

"The insurgents might think he is an enemy." Prime Minister Hong replied.

"That is enough to put his family in a tough position and if so happens then he will need someone to reach out a hand to him." King Gwangyang said.

"Your Majesty." The Prime Minister said.

"Whose hand is more precious than the King's, surely, I am the last person in this world and the only one that can guarantee the safety of his family.

It is only with me that he can beat the suspicions of the members of the Royal Clan and the Ministers of the court and some day if I died, you and him could be the only people to keep this country in shape.

I can save Minister Han and at the same time put an end to the movement without getting my own hands dirty." King Gwangyang replied.

"The insurgents can not guarantee the security of his family so definitely, it has to be you he will turn to.

He is smart enough to know that." The Prime Minister said.

"And I shall be there for him and along with that I shall bring his family closer, he'll know it better than anyone else given that he knew it that he had traitors in his own office." King Gwangyang said.

"Then what shall we do about this case?" Prime Minister Hong asked.

"This case shall remain between the both of us and also Minister Han, word of this should not reach the people and of rumours are they they shall automatically simmer down.

We have to now just watch out for all our enemies and Minister Han will play the Primary role in the downfall of this movement, that is by all means." King Gwangyang said with a smile on his face.

"Your Majesty is indeed sage." The Prime Minister said.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." The King said and Mr. Oh the head Eunuch walked in and bowed his head.

"Your Majesty, Minister Han Seung Yoo is here and he requests an audience with you." Mr. Oh said and bowed his head again.

The King looked at the Prime Minister and then smiled at him.

"Surely, let him in." The King said.

"Yes your Majesty." Mr. Oh replied and bowing his head he turned around to leave.

"I said he would come." The King spoke up proudly.

The Prime Minister then stood up.

"Then I suppose I should take my leave for the both of you to talk." The Prime Minister said.

"It was my pleasure confiding in you because you have my trust Mr. Prime Minister." King Gwangyang said.

"No Sire, the pleasure is precisely mine to serve you." Prime Minister Hong said as he bowed his head.

"Just hire the most elite assassins that you can find me in the kingdom and not as mine but as yours, it shall do best to prevent tension from erupting between me and the insurgents." King Gwangyang said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Prime Minister Hong said and he turned to leave moments later while crossing paths with Minister Han.

"Greetings Your Majesty." Minister Han said as he bowed his head.

"Have a seat." King Gwangyang said.

"I dare not, your Majesty's grace and kindness is in deed immeasurable." Minister Han said.

"Because your loyalty and fealty towards me I have proven is unmatched today." King Gwangyang replied.

"No, the pleasure is only mine to serve you and the crown, there is nothing more I would be more delighted in than being your right hand." Minister Han said.

"You really think highly of me." King Gwangyang said.

"You who has vanquished your enemies deserves to be praised your Majesty." Minister Han said.

"Don't just flatter me, get straight to the point and tell me what it was that brought you here, I can tell you haven't even been to your home yet." The King said.

"Congratulations on your Victory Your Majesty but I am afraid that this is something important both for me and you for I am nothing but a drowning man in desperate need of something to cling on." Minister Han said.

"Please sit down first and let us ask ourselves some of the bigger questions." King Gwangyang said.

"If you insist your Majesty." Minister Han replied and took the seat that was on the opposite end of the table right where the Prime Minister had been seated.

"Tell me how you managed to trap Minister Geum Seolyeon." The King asked.

"Could even a man as wise and smart and him have no flaws when it comes to the simplest things?" Minister Han said.

"I did nothing Your Majesty but just like yourself, I am very suspicious of the people I work with and come in contact with.

My suspicions on him were confirmed from the very moment that he started to ask very many questions about my conversations with you." Minister Han replied.

"You are indeed a national hero." King Gwangyang said.

"You flatter me for nothing your Majesty, you are smarter or else you wouldn't have bothered to use me when you knew it very well that it is in my ministry that the traitors basically lean on." Minister Han said.

"So how then did Geum Seolyeon fall for your trap?" The King asked.

"As soon as he learnt that I was being apprehended for treason and that evidence was found at my office, he didn't bother to look it up or investigate.

He knew that you knew that I knew I was very important to the movement so rather than have me executed he needed me so badly on his side hence I knew there would be people to rescue me.

I wrote two letters one which secretly delivered to you was to have me transferred secretly to the State Tribunal and have it partially isolated so as not to draw attention of many.

The other your Majesty was a letter that I gave to Minister Geum bearing two characters, "ACT ACCORDINGLY." Minister Han said.

I didn't disclose any location to him but told him that at all costs, it had to reach the movement hence I knew very well if someone attempted to make me escape it was because they had been in contact with Minister Geum.

My plan to clear my name would fall in place and of course Minister Han would have imprinted himself much as I didn't hope that he'd commit a suicide." Minister Han said.

"Your smartness is exceeding and I am very much impressed." King Gwangyang said.

"I awe it all to you, after all only the hand of the King can protect me." Minister Han said.

"You see it very well but then I suppose you must also know that if the insurgents can't willingly bring you to their side then they shall do it by force." King Gwangyang said.

"And I shall in deed join them your Majesty because it is only through them that I shall be led to the real perpetuators and instigators of the movement in exchange for the welfare of my family your Majesty." Minister Han said.

"I won't disclose any of this information and you shall announce that Minister Geum Seolyeon died of an assassination.

In the mean time, you shall meet the most elite assassins and they shall follow every official in my government.

All records of their movements shall be kept and stamped both by you and then me finally and it must be detailed and reported to me." King Gwangyang said.

"Of course your Majesty but who shall watch over me?" Minister Han asked.

"I shall personally watch over you and your every move." The King replied with a smile.

"Very well then your Majesty, your wish is my command and I shall not disappoint you." Minister Han said.

"In deed, I know you won't." King Gwangyang replied.

"Then I shall take my leave if you desire." Minister Han said.

"Wait a minute." The King said.

"There is another thing I need to talk to you about." The King said.

"What could it be Your Majesty?" Minister Han asked.

"It is about your son." The King replied.

"Which one of my sons?" Minister Han asked.

"The youngest." The King replied.

"Seunghyeonjeong?" Minister Han said.

"What has he done Sire?" he asked.

"How old is he?" The King asked.

"Eight years of age." Minister Han replied.

"Has he been to the palace before?" The King asked.

"No, not at all." Minister Han replied.

"He came here yesterday disguised as an ordinary peasant passed some of my most elite guards and right in front of me he knelt in the throne room pleading for his father's life." The King said.

"Forgive me Your Majesty, I didn't teach my son very well about trespassing, I am very sorry that he had to turn up uninvited, he is but a young boy.

Please I beg of you not to hold him responsible and instead punish me for his insolence your Majesty." Minister Han said.

"There is no need, he amazed me with his speech, he has a sharp way with his words." The King said.

"May I ask what it was that he said your Majesty?" Minister Han said.

"He asked how I could be King if I didn't care for my people?" The King replied.

"Forgive me your Majesty, he offended you and I shall punish him." Minister Han said.

"No need, in his stubbornness, he still takes after his father that I could clearly see he would grow up to be as smart as you are.

Your son, he is a talent that I believe you shouldn't waste so take my advice and give him more and more books to read." King Gwangyang said.

"I shall implement it your Majesty." Minister Han said.

"Very well then, you may now go." The King said.

"I humbly take my leave." Minister Han replied as he stood up, bowed his head and left the King.

The King seated there in the room recalled the little and young boy speaking up casually to him.

He could almost remember that wild fire, Untamed that burnt in the eyes of that very young child that it brought him to smile at himself as he recalled the boy's words.

Minister Han who exited the room reached outside where the Commander was.

"My Lord." The Commander said.

"It is alright, have it passed that Minister Geum Seolyeon was assassinated and I want all documents showing his territorial movements organized by tomorrow.

I am having the rest of the day off so I am going to my family." Minister Han said.

"Yes My Lord." The Commander said as he bowed his head.

At once, the two walked and left the palace.