GMLS Ch 9

It was already well known that the Emperor’s condition was not good. However, by taking all sorts of precious and rare medicines and keeping the top ten physicians in the country by his side, he was barely prolonging a life that should have ended. He had already lived for too long. With his weakened body, it would not be strange if his life ended tomorrow.

Currently, there were a total of three princes residing in the Imperial Palace, aside from the Crown Prince. The 2nd Prince Simuk, the 3rd Prince Chahyun, and the 5th Prince Muryun. All of them were lives that would be extinguished like candles before a storm upon the Emperor’s death.

The Crown Prince had a fiery and violent temperament. He was not dull, but he was not exceptionally brilliant either. However, having been raised to be emperor since he was a child, he was arrogant and dogmatic. In particular, he could not overlook anything that he thought might be even slightly harmful to himself.

The reason the other princes were still alive was because it was difficult for the Crown Prince to act openly.

No matter how much the Emperor tacitly approved, there was a set line. The Emperor, who was even more arrogant and dogmatic than the Crown Prince, would never tolerate his children crossing that ‘line.’

The 4th Prince’s death was due to an underwater struggle, but it was the Emperor who killed the 1st Prince. His rank being right after the Crown Prince’s, he had crossed the line in his impatience and hurried his own demise. Thanks to that, the Crown Prince became more cautious and could not move rashly. It was a fortunate thing for the other princes, but nothing much changed.

It was as clear as day what would happen after the Emperor died and the Crown Prince became the one above all.

“Your Highness.”

Monghyul, noticing Muryun’s wavering, pressed for an answer, but he remained silent.

He knew that the 2nd and 3rd Princes were preparing something. But he had no interest. Hope had been severed the day he was confined after losing his mother and vassals. He had no reason or purpose to live. The reason he couldn’t take his own life was because it was a life given to him by his precious younger sister.

So, instead of a purpose, he set a goal. It was to seek asylum in the Jihan Kingdom. It was partly because it was his mother’s home country, but the bigger reason was the connections he had because of it.

He was a man who was the 5th Prince’s maternal cousin. He had promised to help the 5th Prince escape the Imperial Palace and seek asylum in the Jihan Kingdom, and had indeed been helping with the preparations until now.

Now, everything was perfect. But why was he hesitating? He had even spent yesterday and today wondering what ways there were to survive while remaining here.

A sneer appeared on the 5th Prince’s lips. He already knew the method. It was the one and only method, and it was also a method that was close to impossible.

For the Emperor and the Crown Prince, who was designated as his successor, to die on the same day at the same time. Then, according to ancient law, all the remaining successors would undergo the same test.

“…The day after tomorrow. Come again at this time.”

In the end, the 5th Prince could not set a date to leave today either.

Monghyul knew who the 5th Prince intended to meet sometime between tomorrow and the day after. But he swallowed the words that rose to the tip of his tongue with loyalty. His form disappeared as if melting away.

The 5th Prince looked up at the tree where the magnolias were in full bloom. The day without the Captain of the Guard passed more slowly than usual.

⊹ ࣪ 💮⊹₊

The day spent at the estate without the 5th Prince was just slow.

It was a strange thing, as I was just rolling around the room and picking at sweets. If Heukwol hadn’t challenged me to a sparring match, I might have been unable to bear the boredom and ridden a horse out to somewhere.

“If you’re so idle, you might as well help me with my work.”

After a good, exhilarating romp, I washed up refreshingly and lay down again, when Yeo Yullyeong stood at the doorway, looking in and speaking.

“I am not idle. Can you not see me busily rolling around the warmest part of the floor?”

“I only need your hands.”

“My right hand holds a sweet, and my left hand holds sikhye, so I have no hands to spare.”

Yeo Yullyeong flicked his folding fan. Heukwol promptly came in and slung me over his shoulder.

Goodness, what is this? I had just returned after working for a full day and night and was finally resting. There is no parent in the world who would work a child who came home on vacation. I can’t live with this sorrow.

As I pretended to cry, Heukwol gestured with his chin at a servant he commanded. The servant, quick-wittedly, picked up the sweets and sikhye I had been eating and followed behind.

I saw the servant’s face directly. I covered my face with both hands. A belated shame welled up. My social standing was dying, but it was too late for regrets. And so, I made an uncomfortable outing to the outer hall where Yeo Yullyeong conducted his business.

The sliding door of the office closed, and Heukwol stood in front of it. Yeo Yullyeong, having confirmed there was no presence, spoke in a low voice.

“Recently, a small village in the Yeonnam Province was annihilated.”

At the serious matter, I straightened my posture and scanned the map and documents placed on the table. After confirming everything, my complexion hardened.

“It’s not just Yeonnam Province.”

“That’s right. From Wi Province to Seo Province. Though the regions are far apart, the villagers all died vomiting blood.”

“Is it poison?”

“A very terrible, lethal poison. The symptoms are the same. On the outside, they seem to be able to go about their daily lives without any problems, but occasionally they spew a bowlful of blood. They don’t even feel their internal organs rotting. Once ingested, it inevitably leads to death, but the duration varies greatly. However, the younger, younger, and healthier they are, the longer they last.”

“How long did the one who lasted the longest endure?”

“Three months.”

“That’s long.”

“It’s because the poison itself is not fast-acting. I heard even an old man on his deathbed lasted ten days. It’s a type of poison that kills slowly, and the problem is that there is no antidote.”

The folding fan he always carried tapped the southern part of the map. It was where the five southern nations were located.

“It is a poison of the south.”

“By south, do you mean the poison of the jungle?”

“Yes. To be precise, it’s the poison of Mujin.”

Among the five southern nations, Mujin was famous for its vast jungle that occupied half the country, and for the medicines and poisons made from all sorts of strange and mysterious plants and poisonous insects found there.

“The Crown Prince is said to have spewed a bowlful of blood while hunting a while ago. There was no cough or any sign of it, so everyone was greatly alarmed, but when the Crown Prince received a diagnosis, his condition was rather robust, so several palace physicians were punished.”

And the 3rd Prince’s mother, the 1st Royal Consort, was from Mujin. This was not a coincidence. Tense, I looked at Yeo Yullyeong.

“What is it that you want me to do?”

I asked with resolve, but Yeo Yullyeong smiled languidly.

“What is there to order you to do? I just called you to give you some advice to be careful. No matter how much this estate is like my own belly, and no matter how much I trust my people, when one reaches my position, a shadow is cast even where there is nothing. There was a need to speak in a more secluded place.”

I can understand why the 5th Prince was wary of me, calling me the Sangseoryeong’s son.

Despite the immense grace I had received, I could not completely trust Yeo Yullyeong. He was that kind of person. A man who was revered by all, but who never showed his true inner thoughts to anyone, and thus earned everyone’s caution and suspicion. Conversely, he had to be wary of everyone and suspect everyone.

But, if I only look at what he has done for me so far, he has truly treated me more like a son than his own biological son.

“The Imperial Palace is unsettled. And it will become even more unsettled in the future.”

Yeo Yullyeong took out a white, shining hairpin from his bosom and handed it to me.

“This poison cannot be detected by ordinary silver utensils. It’s not like there’s any reason for you to get on the 3rd Prince’s bad side, but one never knows what’s a step ahead in life, so from now on, poke this hairpin into your food first.”

Although he said your food, the Sangseoryeong probably knew. That I would also stick this hairpin into the 5th Prince’s food.

“Yes, Sangseoryeong.”

In any case, it was clear that he was worried about me. For the first time in a long while, my chest tingled. I politely saluted and received the hairpin.

“There’s no need to be so awkward. Did I not tell you when I brought you in? That there is something I want from you.”

“Come to think of it, there was something like that. When on earth will you take it?”

“I told you back then, too. It is certainly something that only you can give, but I cannot take it as I please, nor can you give it just because you want to.”

I thought I hadn’t understood because I was young, but hearing it now that I was older, it was even more confusing.

I became strangely anxious. That ambiguity bothered me. The ghost-like Yeo Yullyeong said, 

‘There is no need to be so anxious. You will know when the time comes.’ 

Then, uncharacteristically, he hesitated before asking.

“Are you, by any chance, still thinking of saving the 5th Prince?”

“Yes.”

At my confident answer, he sighed.

“If so, you will need to become someone who can save at least a castle or two with just a few words. Are you confident you can become such a person?”

“Of course.”

Yeo Yullyeong looked as if he had no faith in me at all, but he said no more. He said, ‘Alright,’ and then squeezed my shoulder once before letting go.

⊹ ࣪ 💮⊹₊

The next day, I entered the palace as soon as the day broke. The palace gate guard, who was yawning widely, was startled and fluttered like a bird.

I arrived at the 5th Prince’s palace in the dim light before the sun had even risen. Even so, it was too early to ask if he had woken up, so I went to my quarters and lay down on the cold bed.

This place felt more like my home than Yeo Yullyeong’s estate, where I had already stayed for five years. If Yeo Yullyeong had heard, he would have chuckled and said that I was quite an ungrateful fellow, and Heukwol… he wouldn’t show it, but inside his mask, he would be dejected and downcast.

After the breakfast tray went out, I went to the 5th Prince. He greeted me as usual. But there was one thing that was different from usual.

He looked like he had something to say, but he just wouldn’t bring it up. It was a daily occurrence for me to chatter like a mynah bird in front of him, but this was the first time he had something to say to me.

What on earth is he trying to say? When on earth is he going to bring it up? I waited with a pounding and anxious heart, but he ate his lunch, ate his dinner, and even ate his drinking snacks, but he still didn’t say anything.

In the end, the night deepened. My work hours ended, and I returned to my quarters and lay down, but the words I hadn’t been able to hear kept circling in my head, and I couldn’t fall asleep. I finally closed my eyes around dawn, but perhaps because I had been restless all along, I had a nightmare for the first time in a long while.