Chapter 328: The Imperial Palace (2)

Yullyang County, Honam Province – the residence of the Ikyang So Family.

The Ikyang So residence, which had been unusually quiet in recent days, was now bustling with noise and excitement.

The reason for this was that Lady Yang, the first wife of the family head So Ikheon and mistress of Jakyang Hall, who had been bedridden with a stress-induced illness for several months, was now hosting a grand banquet.

She had suffered a long time from a psychological illness that even physicians could not cure.

But now she was practically soaring with joy.

Why? Because that hateful bastard So Unhwi had vanished.

Though she had worried he might return, after being missing for seven months, she was now convinced there was no chance of that happening.

> "It feels so good, like having a rotten tooth pulled."

Thanks to this, her eldest son So Younghyeon, who had given up on entering the Murim Alliance due to his low reputation, was now able to go to the capital for the Great Tangju Election hosted by the Alliance — and no one could be more pleased.

"Congratulations, Lady Yang."

"Oh my, Lady Song! You're here?"

The woman offering congratulations was a dignified-looking middle-aged noblewoman — the matriarch of the Song family of Johang.

"A grand banquet like this? Of course, I had to attend."

The guests at the banquet included powerful local clans and martial families from Honam Province.

They all knew why Lady Yang had fallen ill and came to offer their congratulations.

"I heard your sons have joined Hwangryongdang, led by the young head of the Moyong clan?"

"Well, it just worked out that way."

Though she said it casually, much investment had gone into the Moyong clan to make that happen.

As a result, her eldest son, So Younghyeon, was promised a position as a member of Hwangryongdang as soon as he entered the Murim Alliance.

With ties to one of the Five Great Clans and a clear path to success, things couldn't be better.

> "Hohoho. It's a joyous day. Please, eat and drink to your heart's content."

> "I already instructed the guest quarters to be prepared for everyone."

> "You've done well."

Someone else enjoying the banquet was So Jangyoon, the second son of the Ikyang So family.

He, too, had been afraid of So Unhwi after the incident.

He had stayed hidden in the family estate, even refraining from his beloved drinking. But now, there was no need for that anymore.

> "Hahaha! Drink up, everyone. Once I head off to the Murim Alliance, you won't see me often!"

> "Then we must drink as much as we can while we still can!"

> "Tonight, let's drink till our noses bend!"

As So Jangyoon raised his cup, the young martial artists of the family followed suit and cheered.

But while everyone celebrated, one man sat alone with a heavy heart, quietly drinking — So Ikheon, the family head.

When he had heard of So Unhwi's rise in the martial world, he was disheartened by the fact that his own sons could accomplish nothing.

Now that the so-called "rotten tooth" So Unhwi had vanished and opportunities had opened for his sons, he should have felt relieved — but instead, he felt only heaviness in his heart.

It stemmed from guilt toward the woman he once loved — Lady Ha.

> "Only your father seems displeased."

> "Hmph. Leave him be."

Lady Yang and her sons resented So Ikheon.

Their affection for him had faded ever since he did nothing to defend them when they were humiliated by So Unhwi, the child of a mere concubine.

> "Just watch. We'll rise higher than that low-born bastard."

She believed that when that day came, So Ikheon would regret everything.

As the banquet carried on, suddenly, a gatekeeper came running in and shouted:

> "Master! The magistrate has arrived!"

> "Oh! The magistrate is here? Quickly, bring him in!"

It was Lady Yang, not So Ikheon, who replied.

> "Understood!"

> 'He really came!'

Though she didn't show it, Lady Yang was delighted.

Having a county magistrate attend the banquet brought great honor to a family.

She had sent the invitation with little hope — but this visit saved face in a big way.

Soon, the magistrate of Yullyang County appeared in the rear garden where the banquet was held.

So Ikheon, Lady Yang, and So Jangyoon went to greet him.

> "Welcome, Magistrate."

> "Master So. It's been a while since the Lunar New Year."

The magistrate smiled as he greeted them.

Lady Yang politely guided him to the highest seat.

> "Hohoho, to think the magistrate would grace us with his presence — we are truly honored. Please, have a seat."

The magistrate respectfully clasped his hands and replied:

> "First, allow me to offer my congratulations, Master So and Lady."

Lady Yang was puzzled inside.

The martial families understood the context, so their congratulations made sense — but why would the magistrate care that her son joined the Murim Alliance?

> "You must be proud to have such a fine son."

Those words pleased Lady Yang.

If the magistrate was congratulating her this much, perhaps it meant he wished to maintain good relations with the So family.

But then his next words rendered her speechless.

> "Yullyang County has produced the youngest Murim Alliance Leader ever — how could that not be a joyful occasion?"

> '!?'

Everyone present could hardly believe their ears.

> – Murmur, murmur!

The banquet hall became noisy with confusion.

> "Youngest Murim Alliance Leader? What are you talking about?"

Lady Yang asked in disbelief.

> "You didn't know? I'm talking about your son becoming the Alliance Leader."

> "Wha… what?"

So Jangyoon, half-drunk, raised his voice in shock.

What kind of nonsense was this?

How long had it been since his brother So Younghyeon went to the capital? And now he was supposedly the Alliance Leader?

> "O-our Younghyeon is the Alliance Leader…?"

> "There must be some mistake…"

> "Mistake? What do you mean?"

> "I'm talking about So Geomseon So Unhwi, the third son of the Ikyang So family. He is now the Murim Alliance Leader."

> '!!!'

The hall burst into chaos.

So Unhwi had been missing for nearly seven months.

And now they were told he had become the Murim Alliance Leader? It was hard for anyone to believe.

> "S-So Unhwi?"

Lady Yang gasped and trembled as she uttered his name.

> "Hahaha, yes. To think that our very own Yullyang County would produce not only the Murim Alliance Leader but also the greatest swordmaster under the heavens — it's truly a joyous day!"

> 'This can't be happening!'

As the magistrate laughed heartily, So Jangyoon was left speechless.

He had believed So Unhwi to be dead — and now he was not only alive but also the Alliance Leader and called the "greatest sword under heaven"?

Judging by the magistrate's demeanor, it was clearly no lie.

> 'So Unhwi, just what the hell are you…? Wait—what about Younghyeon?'

Hadn't his brother gone to the Murim Alliance?

Panicked, he turned to his mother, Lady Yang —

> "Aaaah…"

Lady Yang's face went pale, and she collapsed to the ground.

> "Mother! Mother!"

Not knowing why they reacted this way, the magistrate smiled and said to So Ikheon:

> "It seems your wife was quite shocked. Haha, even if it were her own child, it'd still be overwhelming."

> "..."

So Ikheon could not respond.

He too was deeply shaken.

> 'That child… is the Alliance Leader?'

The missing So Unhwi had returned — as the Murim Alliance Leader.

It was a twist so unbelievable that it bordered on the miraculous in the history of the orthodox martial world.

As he watched Lady Yang and So Jangyoon collapsed in shock, he let out a deep sigh.

> "Haa…"

> 'Haryeong… is this the punishment you've left for me?'

If So Unhwi had truly become the Alliance Leader, then the paths of success for his own sons — Younghyeon and Jangyoon — were likely blocked forever.

Perhaps this was the karmic retribution for failing to protect So Unhwi, as his late beloved Haryeong had asked.

Inside King Gyeong's royal carriage.

"What kind of technique was that, just now? How did you enter the carriage without even opening the closed door?"

King Gyeong asked me in amazement.

I adjusted the ceremonial uniform of a royal guard, which I had taken from the real Yeonsaeng, and replied calmly.

"It's merely a trifling skill."

At that, King Gyeong clicked his tongue and said to me,

"How can you call that trifling? To appear so suddenly without any sign of presence is a dangerous technique that could be used for assassination."

Despite his surprise, his insight was sharp as ever.

The fact that he could recognize how dangerous a technique like Chukjibeop (縮地法, a teleportation-like martial art) is was telling.

"Do not worry. To master this skill, one must train in the Dao for several hundred years."

"!?"

At my words, King Gyeong's eyes widened.

"Then… just how old are you?"

He must be wondering about my age.

I responded with a gentle smile.

If he misunderstood and saw me as even more formidable, all the better for me.

Besides, compared to the revealing undergarment often worn by courtesans, the royal guard uniform I wore on top looked far better. It was pants, not a skirt, after all.

— "Please halt for a moment."

A voice came from outside.

The guards at the palace gate had stopped the carriage.

Once the officer escorting King Gyeong finished presenting his identity token, we would be allowed into the outer palace.

"The atmosphere outside the palace feels more intense than usual."

Even though it was nighttime, there were many more soldiers than I had seen before.

According to what I heard from Song Jwabek, this should've been a moment of celebration for the Great Yeon Empire—yet the tension was high.

"We're effectively in a wartime state, so strict vigilance is necessary."

"Wartime?"

"Despite His Majesty's illness, he appeared in public and issued a secret order for all princes to return to the palace immediately."

Ah… so such an order was indeed given.

I had only heard the former part through spies—that the Emperor, who had been ill, had recovered significantly and appeared in public.

He announced in front of his ministers that all credit went to the guest physician, Mansashinui, and that he would be handsomely rewarded. That's how his whereabouts became known.

"What do you think of His Majesty's summons, Yeonsaeng?"

At his question, I fell silent for a moment.

Then I said,

"It seems like he intends to decide on his successor."

At that, King Gyeong smirked and said,

"Truly, you are clever."

"Even after his long illness, he never named a crown prince."

Indeed, the Emperor hadn't appointed a crown prince during his long sickness.

That's why, later on, King Gyeong raised a great army and seized all political power.

However, things seemed to have deviated from the history I knew.

In the original timeline, the Emperor never received treatment from Mansashinui, nor did he appoint a successor before his death.

At that time, Prince Jin seized the imperial seal inside the palace and confronted Prince Yeong, while King Gyeong marched from the north with the frontier army and troops of the Five Tiger Governors to attack the capital.

— So things are progressing much faster.

Yes.

Clearly, every action I've taken is affecting the timeline greatly.

Prince Jin, who had been terrified into passivity after that incident, was no longer a threat.

The immediate obstacles for King Gyeong now would be the Empress Dowager and Prince Yeong.

—They'll probably try to eliminate King Gyeong no matter what.

Most likely.

If this hadn't been a secret imperial summons, I might've believed it was just about naming the crown prince.

But given the current situation, that no longer seems to be the case.

Most likely…

"However, there's no way to tell whether it was truly His Majesty who summoned us… or if this is some hidden scheme."

Just as I predicted, King Gyeong voiced the same concern.

He, too, had grasped the gravity of the situation.

That's likely why he brought even Yeonsaeng, a royal guard, under the guise of over-preparedness.

"You suspect it may be a trap."

"Yes. If I let down my guard tonight, my life could be in danger."

King Gyeong's voice turned serious.

Understandably so, since no one knew what could happen inside the palace.

I said to him,

"Yet, despite the risk, Your Highness calmly obeys the summons. Is it because you have a countermeasure prepared?"

Someone as shrewd as him would never walk into danger unprepared.

King Gyeong gave a faint smile.

"Correct. This is why I value you as a talent."

"Please keep that sentiment to yourself."

"Haha, you never let your guard down. In any case, there are people inside the palace who will protect me, and now that you're here on time, it's a relief."

King Gyeong said he felt more at ease.

Though his words were relaxed, his eyes betrayed his readiness for battle.

— "You may proceed."

The palace gates opened, and the carriage began to move inside.

As we entered the outer palace, King Gyeong asked me,

"By the way, why did you come to see me? Surely it's not because you missed me."

"I need Mansashinui."

King Gyeong responded in surprise,

"What? Mansashinui? But isn't he currently His Majesty's personal physician?"

"Yes."

That's precisely why I was almost ready to forcibly take him.

I was curious how King Gyeong would react—after all, the Emperor was still his father.

"There's something I must do that absolutely requires him."

At my words, King Gyeong raised a brow and said,

"So, you're planning something as dangerous as I am."

"As dangerous as you?"

I looked into his eyes.

From what he just said, it seemed he wasn't simply trying to protect himself.

With a serious tone, I asked him,

"...Are you planning to shed blood?"

At that, King Gyeong leaned on his elbow and answered nonchalantly,

"If they intend to spill blood, shouldn't I make the first move?"

Ha…

So this is King Gyeong's true nature.

Historically, he succeeded in his rebellion and it was called a revolution. But had he failed, it would've been called treason.

He truly had the resolve of one who would dare such a feat.

'Come to think of it, didn't Seol Baek say he was working with Prince Yeong?'

I remember hearing that after the incident at King Pyeong's tomb in the Chu kingdom, the Emperor gave up on Prince Jin and began secretly contacting Prince Yeong.

If that's the case, it's highly likely that both the Emperor and his strategist are now allied with Prince Yeong.

They, too, would be after Mansashinui.

What an ironic twist.

"Help me. If you do, I'll make sure Mansashinui safely ends up in your hands. Isn't that a fair trade?"

King Gyeong stared directly at me and laid out his offer.

He clearly expected me to accept.

But I firmly replied,

"I refuse."

King Gyeong looked at me with a confused expression.

"...Why?"

"Whether Your Highness helps or not, I can take Mansashinui whenever I wish."

"!?"