86- An Act To Halt A War

"Got any vision?" asked Uk to the observation unit. The man peek into the binocular, looking for a small unit that infiltrated the palace not a long time ago.

"Special corps is one their way, Gisa..." the man relayed his report.

"What about jeoha and manora?"

"They are on their way inside..."

Uk sighed in relief. Everything's according to the plan. If it's succeed, they might put an end to the biggest coup plan ever.

"According to our troop in the South, a group of army lead by Saturn is on their way. I think they might not be far from here by now," said Asura. He released the hawk from his forearm, walking towards Uk with a tiny message roll in his hand.

Uk silently calculated. He frowned a bit before asking for a binocular. He peek through the small hole and taken a back for a moment.

"Can someone from 200 metre radius check on the army at the right line, third row from the gate..." Uk demanded.

One of the observation unit member put up a white flag with two fingers on air. The message had been relayed just like that.

"What's wrong, Gisa?" asked Asura.

"Everything is wrong. Send the frontline unit. We need a backup for jeoha..."

***

Min Jun walked along the open space in front of the Emerald Dragon. His mind stuck with Uk, feeling heavy from the previous conversation with the man.

"Should I help?" asked Soo Young. Behind the black sheer cover, she could see a mellow in Min Jun's face. "He will listen to me, I can guarantee that..."

"I don't know by now whether he will listens to you or not. You just happened to marry his boyfriend. And worst, you're pregnant," said Min Jun. He kept his composure tight, but he failed to keep his rattle heart intact.

"I know Gisa Ahn. He loves you. Maybe he just in shock," Soo Young replied. "If Dan did that to me, I think my reaction will be the same. Or worst."

The air gloomed once the name spurred from Soo Young's lips. She stared at the wooden coffin in front of them. Her husband did protect his love ones to his last breath.

"Let's end things and back to normal, jeoha mama..."

"Nothing will become normal after this, Soo Young. You do realize, you called me jeoha mama. That alone a big burden on my shoulder," Min Jun sighed as he glanced at her. Saturn

"At least we can put ends to one part of it. A coup and a traitor is now the biggest threat for the kingdom. End this and things will become normal again," Soo Young looked calm behind the sheer cover. She just lost her husband, yet, there she was, walking straight into the fire pit with determination to put everything off and end it once and for all.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect Dan..." Min Jun grit his teeth out of frustration.

"I understand his intention. He loves you more than me. Thus, he trusted you with his life, for the sake of a better future for his family. I am proud to be his wife," Soo Young replied with a smile on her face. A small drop of tears falling from her eyes but she silently wiped it.

Min Jun grabbed her hand tight. "Let's put this to end, Soo Young!"

The woman nodded bravely and together they march towards the palace's door, not knowing that they already fell into a trap.

***

The frontline unit was already a few meters away from the area of the Emerald Dragon's compound. Uk and Asura check the area, while preparing for the next act.

"Pray that I'm wrong, Asura. I think, by now, all of the royal guards are not our people anymore. They're Southern..." said Uk.

"How did you know, Gisa?"

Uk took a glance at his troops. "One of the doesn't look like our people. That face is definitely a Southern face. He was giving a signal through something shining from his pocket. When I look closer, it's a mirror. It can reflects the lights from the Sun, and can act as a code if we see it from afar."

Asura nodded. He took the binocular from his pocket; the one that he borrowed from the observation unit. He took a peak through the small hole and check the environment.

"I think by now Indra is already inside with his team. We have to take down these men by now," said Asura. Uk observed for the last time. Then, he softly nodded.

"Troops, prepare for an ambush. On the ground all the time. Move silently like a mouse."

With Uk's directive order, the troop infiltrate the palace in silence.

***

"The arrival of Min Jun wangja...."

The announcement made by the eunuch in all of the sudden caused a stir among the people in the hall. Wang Ki and Wangbi Ki turn around at the same time, only to find a small convoy of their second prince, with a wooden coffin in front of them.

"Daegum? Why it take so long for your arrival? Is something happened on your way here?" asked Wangbi Ki. Everyone could feel a concern in her tone.

"Yes. I was being attack by a group of bandits..." said Min Jun calmly. "Excuse me, but where's manora jaga?" his inquiry made them exchange looks.

"Things are quite hectic here. Manora jaga was found unconscious in her room, perhaps maybe she's too tired and stress so we let her rest. But, we do need her for the funeral. Now that you're here, daegum, we can make a decision whether we should ask Jang Bin to take over the responsible–"

"You wanna ask that concubine to take over manora's place? Are you sure about that?" even before the royal council member finished his words, Min Jun silenced him at once.

"But–"

"I can't believe how easily you got manipulated by that woman! And how dare you let a murder of my orabeonim to conduct his funeral!" Min Jun scolded them, eyes in rage.

"That's a heavy accusation, daegum! Everyone knows that the daughter of General Kim is the one who murder jeoha mama..."

"Just because she happened to be there? She just stepped her foot inside, she didn't even touch anything but lending her laps during jeoha mama's final moment and that's it!" thinking about the incident made Min Jun even more angrier.

"It seems that you know a lot..." One of the royal council glared at Min Jun with poise. "If so, then, explain to me why she was there at that very early?"

Min Jun inhaled deeply the air. "I'm the one who asked Soo Young to meet jeoha mama. To ask for a favor..."

"What kind of favor?"

The question made Min Jun knackered his finger.

"Me and Soo Young... We got married secretly in China. She came back home early because her parents were furious about it, and I'm also afraid that jeonha mama will be mad as well. So, I asked her to meet jeoha mama, asking him to calm jeonha mama in case if he gets angry. I know jeonha mama will listens to him."

The confession from Min Jun caused a shock in the room. There were whispers everywhere.

"That's true..." Soo Young eventually revealed herself. "When I came in, jeoha mama was on verge of dying. His tea cup toppled on the table, and when I sniff the content. It smell sweets, but I noticed a change in the color of the tea. It turned black. He got poisoned by a poisonous flower."

"Every details were included in the report by the coroner. But why it never arrived at the council? Or, is it council who keep it as a secret? A part of a coup plan, maybe?" Min Jun crooked up his eyebrows.

"What's the meaning of all this, royal council?!No one ever told me about the coroner report! All of you better have some explanation to do!" Wang Ki sprung up from his seat.

"I guess, it should be done by this woman..."

All eyes look at the corner on the right.

It's Myung Yu, holding a knife pointed at Jang Bin's neck. Behind them, slowly, Athea emerged, all safe and sound.

"No tricks, Jang Bin! You'll know your fate if you play one!" warned Myung Yu.