A Visit

The Minister of Environment, Tae So, shifted uneasily in his seat, his hands resting stiffly on his lap. He made no move toward the untouched cup of tea before him, his gaze fixed instead on the man seated across from him. Song Joo, the Prime Minister of their nation, the most powerful figure next to the King sat in composed silence, his every movement deliberate.

Tae So blinked rapidly, suppressing the unease creeping through him. Though they were in his own residence, it felt as if he were the visitor rather than the host. It was only when Song Joo finally set his cup down that Tae So, almost instinctively, reached for the teapot and refilled it with careful precision.

In terms of wealth, Tae So came from an affluent background, while the Prime Minister had climbed his way up through sheer intelligence. Despite this, it was clear who held more power between them. They had grown up together, attended the same academy, but the Prime Minister's sharp mind and strategic brilliance had propelled him to the highest ministerial rank. His appointment had taken years, requiring countless connections, yet once he secured the position, he systematically severed all ties he had once relied on. Now, as Prime Minister, he ruled with such authority that it seemed as though he had been born for the role. Most ministers treaded carefully around him, and even the Queen Dowager sought his counsel from time to time.

For reasons Tae So did not fully understand, he found himself in an unusually close position with the Prime Minister. He could not tell whether he was being kept at arm's length or drawn in as a confidant. Their relationship was not hostile, yet neither was it entirely familiar. Like the other ministers, Tae So longed to earn the Prime Minister's trust, knowing he could not afford to offend the man before him.

Their journey to Jo town had been made in secret, though Tae So had not been given the details and he wasn't even so sure it was a secret due to the large company they had. He suspected that the Prime Minister intended to visit the famed House of Stories, yet hours had passed, and not once had he mentioned it. Instead, they remained indoors in the house Tae So had purchased a decade ago, making no effort to announce their presence or visit the magistrate. Tae So was certain Magistrate Hong gi had heard of his arrival, there was no way he wouldn't have but his absence and failing to initiate a visit suggested a deliberate decision to ignore them.

"The Light of the House should have begun by now," Tae So remarked lightly, hoping to spark a conversation. The silence unsettled him. He knew it was impossible for the Prime Minister to be unaware of the House of Stories hosting the Light of the House that night.

The Prime Minister was not a man of many words, speaking only when necessary. Even so, Tae So felt that if he had been dragged along on this journey, he at least deserved to know why. It seemed unlikely that the Prime Minister had chosen him merely for the convenience of his house in Jo. Finding accommodations would have been easy enough, and they had made no effort to hide their arrival. That meant the visit was intentionally calculated. Tae So knew he had been brought here for a reason, yet he could not bring himself to ask outright.

The Prime Minister dismissed his remark with silence, placing his half-filled cup of tea on the table. Then, in a low voice, almost a whisper, he asked, "Is your daughter entering the palace as one of the Palace Women?"

Tae So's mouth quivered slightly. The question had come out of nowhere, leaving him momentarily speechless. He had no idea why the Prime Minister would suddenly inquire about his daughter's future, nor how he ought to respond.

It had been announced at court a year after the King's coronation that he would be selecting concubines from among the Palace Women. Jeong was a powerful nation with many states, meaning the King had no need to seek brides from foreign lands to strengthen his rule. Instead, other nations sought him out, offering their princesses in hopes of securing favor.

Yet the King had remained firm, refusing to take a wife hastily. His first marriage would be to a queen, and he was in no rush to make such a significant choice. Now, however, he had decided to take three concubines at once, delaying the selection of a queen. Since the announcement, every minister with an eligible daughter had been eager to register her, anticipating the prestige that would come with royal favor.

The Prime Minister himself had both a daughter and a son from his only legal wife, yet he had made no move to put his daughter forward. It was expected that ministers would present his daughter as the perfect candidate for a queen in the court assembly, yet greed had taken root. Rather than waiting for the Prime Minister's counsel or suggesting the Prime Minister's daughter, many had chosen to act on their own ambitions, each hoping their own daughter would rise in rank.

From childhood, the King had been kept at a distance from the ministers' children. It had been the late Great King who introduced him to the sons of one of the nation's greatest generals, forging the only friendships he was ever allowed. The Great King had done this deliberately, sheltering his only legitimate son from undue influence. While the late King had two other sons from concubines and three daughters who were married off to foreign lands, his true heir, the current King was the sole child of the Queen Dowager. And now, he sat upon the throne.

Tae So swallowed hard, his throat tightening as if a blade had pressed against it. His voice wavered slightly as he choked out, "Yes." He cleared his throat and repeated, more firmly, "Yes."

He could only hope that the Prime Minister would not pry further into his daughter's affairs.

It seemed his silent wish was granted, for the Prime Minister showed no further interest in the topic. Instead, he simply stared at his cup of tea, lost in thought.

Tae So's mind drifted back to their journey to Jo. They had traveled with numerous companions, a clear indication that secrecy was not a concern. And yet, since their arrival, the Prime Minister had neither stepped outside nor received visitors. He was waiting, for what, Tae So did not know. And though curiosity gnawed at him, he had no means of uncovering the truth.

"Do you think our nation will remain at peace?"

Tae So hadn't expected the question. It felt like a sudden trial, as if he had been thrust into a seat too hot to bear. He hesitated, unsure of how to respond, but he knew he had no choice, his opinion was required. His mind raced, sifting through the news that had passed through the court assembly.

Several smaller nations still paid tribute to Jeong to avoid invasion, but many had either ceased their offerings or drastically reduced their payments. While Jeong possessed formidable military strength, so did its neighboring nations. They had all been careful, maintaining an uneasy balance, avoiding unnecessary conflict. Yet, beneath the surface, everyone was sharpening their blades. If war were to break out, Jeong would likely be the aggressor.

But recent intelligence from their spies in ShanXi painted a different picture. The Emperor of ShanXi had forged an alliance with Han and Sora, rapidly building his military forces. According to reports, his army had now surpassed Jeong's in strength.

The news had not yet spread beyond the highest ranks of government, nor was there any open sign of war. However, even the smaller nations Jeong had conquered, now vassal states were subtly resisting their rule, attempting to reclaim independence. To suppress these ambitions, Jeong had resorted to extreme measures, eliminating rebellious leaders and replacing them with loyal officials. For now, stability had been restored, but deep down, everyone knew it was only temporary. True peace among nations was impossible unless a shared interest bound them together.

Tae So exhaled softly, finally giving his answer. "No."

The Prime Minister's gaze sharpened. "Why do you say so?"

Shifting in his seat, Tae So gathered his thoughts. "Over two centuries ago, when our nation was at its strongest, we had a king who was not only a great ruler but also a warrior. Beside him stood the Next General, a man who instilled fear in both the living and the dead. Those who witnessed firsthand how we waged war had no choice but to make peace with us." He paused, his voice faltering. "But now… the Next General has vanished, and our new great King is… he is… is…"

"Is?" the Prime Minister prompted, his voice calm yet pressing.

Tae So hesitated, struggling to find the right words. He knew he dared not speak ill of the King, yet it was impossible to ignore the truth. "Our great… great King is…" He swallowed hard, his words stumbling out. "He is a man of ideology, and..."

"He is weak."

The Prime Minister's voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp and unwavering.

Tae So's eyes widened in shock. He could hardly believe what he had just heard. To even whisper a hint of disrespect toward the King could mean execution, and yet here was the Prime Minister, stating it so plainly. Tae So's breath hitched as he cast a nervous glance around, making sure they were truly alone.

They were.

Yet that did little to ease his discomfort. The weight of the words hung between them, heavy and dangerous. He suddenly found it difficult to remain in the same space as the man before him.

"Let us call a spade a spade," the Prime Minister said, clicking his tongue in irritation. "Do you know why we are here?"

Tae So shook his head. He had wondered, of course, but now he wasn't sure if he wanted to know. "No."

"One way or another, Jeong will go to war," the Prime Minister stated, his tone measured but firm. "And if we are to prevail, two people must take the lead, two people I needed for us to conquer all nations."

Tae So swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "Who?" he asked, licking his lower lip nervously.

The Prime Minister leaned forward, his gaze unwavering.

"Me and the Next General."

Tae So nearly stumbled from his seat. Was he hearing treason? He couldn't be sure.