The next day, court was in an uproar from the very start.
The ministers and the Duke’s faction were exchanging sharp words over who should bear responsibility for the assassin incident the night before.
“Enough!”
A single cold word.
“After yesterday’s affair, the palace is already in chaos.”
Wolhwa closed her eyes as if weary, then opened them again.
“You may not be tired… but We are.”
After a brief silence, she waved her hand.
“If you have something to say, say it at tomorrow’s court. For now, all of you withdraw.”
The Duke was quick-tempered.
He stepped forward, about to refute her on the spot.
But Jang Munyeon, who stood beside him, quietly tugged at his arm.
Then he shook his head, ever so slightly.
With that one brief signal, the Duke’s demeanor softened a little.
The two of them prostrated themselves on the floor at the same time and bowed their heads.
“We shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”
Then they rose and left the palace at once.
The moment they stepped outside the main hall, Wolhwa’s gaze slowly cooled.
Her cold, sunken eyes turned toward Yunseo.
“Did you see?”
She spoke in a low voice.
“They call Us emperor… but that does not mean We can always do as We please.”
Yunseo read the anger in her.
But the situation at court was far too complicated.
It was not yet time to confront them head-on.
The ledger he had examined with Yunseol yesterday.
When he recalled the names written inside, he realized that aside from himself and Yunseol, most of those around Wolhwa were foxes and wolves.
Wolhwa opened her mouth again.
“You did well today.”
She turned her back.
“Go back and rest. Tomorrow, you must come to court early.”
With that, Wolhwa entered her bedchamber.
The moment the door closed, Yunseo stood there for a while.
Her attitude just now.
A subtle distance had clearly appeared between them.
That was what an emperor was.
Cold, calculating, and capable of turning their back at any moment.
Fortunately.
Not showing that ledger to Wolhwa had been the right choice.
If he had handed it over, there was a chance she might have chosen to discard him once his usefulness was spent.
The system had said Wolhwa’s dependence on him was high, but serving a ruler had always been like standing beside a tiger.
One must always keep a move in reserve.
For an unexpected moment.
Thinking so, he left the palace and returned home.
Someone was standing in front of the estate gate.
It was Yunseol.
Her face held a tension unlike her usual self.
Yunseo stopped walking.
“What is it?”
Yunseol came straight over.
Then she spoke in a low voice.
“This is difficult to discuss here.”
She glanced around for a moment, then added,
“May I go inside?”
Yunseo nodded.
“Come in.”
The two of them went straight into the estate.
As soon as the door closed, Yunseol opened her mouth.
“The Chancellor and the Duke. The two of them have suddenly begun gathering large numbers of people from their factions.”
Yunseo’s eyes narrowed.
“It seemed as if they were plotting something.”
Yunseol continued.
“So I came to find you right away. As a friend… I couldn’t simply stand by and watch.”
Yunseo was silent for a moment, then let out a small laugh.
“I thought something truly grave had happened.”
Yunseol’s eyes widened.
“You can laugh in this situation? If the Chancellor and the Duke move at the same time, the court will be overturned. You know how great the repercussions will be.”
But there was another reason mixed within that concern.
Only if Yunseo stayed alive would a path open for her to avenge her father.
Yunseo did not know what was in her heart, but he did not waver in the slightest.
“We can think about tomorrow’s matters tomorrow.”
He spoke calmly.
“Do not worry too much now. When the time comes to distinguish right from wrong, His Majesty will judge fairly.”
Yunseol’s lips moved subtly.
“What if…”
After hesitating for a moment, she continued.
“What if His Majesty ultimately chooses only to protect herself?”
Those words were by no means an unfounded suspicion.
After Wolhwa returned to Geumneung, a strange rift had already begun forming among the court ministers.
Those who had wielded power all this time were merely holding their breath for now.
If they were driven into a corner, no one knew what choice they would make.
Yunseo looked at Yunseol for a moment.
Then he spoke in a low voice.
“When that time comes, we will know.”
He said no more.
Yunseol still did not understand, but after seeing the look in Yunseo’s eyes, she did not ask further.
That man had clearly prepared something.
That was what she felt.
The next day.
When Yunseo and Yunseol entered court together, Wolhwa was already seated upon the dragon throne.
And around her stood far more warriors than usual.
Today’s court was beginning in an atmosphere completely different from yesterday’s.
Once all the ministers had taken their places, Wolhwa slowly rose.
Descending from the dragon throne, she walked straight toward Yunseo.
At the sudden movement, the eyes of the court all turned to her at once.
Wolhwa came to a stop.
Then she slowly opened her mouth.
“All of you must already know of what happened several days ago.”
The air inside the main hall instantly grew heavy.
“We were attacked by assassins.”
Her gaze swept over the entire court.
“If Yuk Yunseo had not been there at that moment, We would already have lost Our life.”
The expressions of several ministers stiffened.
Wolhwa took a step forward.
“How could We take lightly the merit of one who threw himself forward at a moment of peril to save his sovereign?”
Her voice rang out clearly.
“We hereby name Yuk Yunseo—”
It was at that very moment.
“Your Majesty, please wait!”
A loud voice cut through the court.
Chancellor Jang Munyeon and the Duke stepped forward at the same time.
Both of their expressions were firmly set.
Jang Munyeon spoke first.
“I understand that Your Majesty feels indebted to Yuk Yunseo.”
His voice was outwardly respectful, but there was a subtle edge to it.
“However, repaying a debt of gratitude need not take the form of granting an official post. Bestowing silver and silk upon him would be reward enough.”
As soon as he finished speaking, several ministers nodded.
At that moment.
Wolhwa’s gaze turned ice-cold.
“Impudent.”
That single cold word fell.
She gave a sharp sweep of her sleeve.
“Does Our life seem to you like something that can be settled with a few chests of silver and silk?”
The air inside the main hall sank at once.
Jang Munyeon tried to speak again, but Wolhwa raised a hand and stopped him.
“Say no more.”
Her voice was much lower than before.
“We will make this clear here today. One who risked his life in service to Us shall be rewarded without fail.”
She turned.
One step.
Then another.
She walked back toward the dragon throne.
There was no longer any hesitation in her eyes.
“Proclaim this. Last night, the guard warrior Yuk Yunseo saved Us, refusing to retreat even at a moment of peril. In recognition of his loyalty and merit—”
Her voice resounded throughout the palace.
“As of today, We appoint Yuk Yunseo as a Supervising Censor of the junior seventh rank.”
The court stirred at once.
“Your Majesty!”
Jang Munyeon cried out urgently.
“This violates precedent!”
His voice grew louder and louder.
“Since ancient times, no guard warrior has ever received such an office merely for fulfilling his duty!”
There was a clear intent behind those words.
It was a calculation meant to draw out the opposition of the other ministers.
The corner of Wolhwa’s mouth rose faintly.
‘As expected.’
She knew that old man’s schemes all too well.
A move meant to gather the dissatisfaction of the entire court into one place.
But Wolhwa said nothing.
Instead, she slowly lowered her gaze.
Where it came to rest was the sword hanging at Yunseo’s waist.
And—
It happened in an instant.
Shrrng!
A flash of light streaked through the main hall.
No one saw the movement properly.
The next instant.
Clack.
A sharp sound rang out.
The silk cord tying Jang Munyeon’s hair was severed in a single stroke.
His long-bound hair scattered in an instant.
Chancellor Jang Munyeon sank to the floor where he stood.
For a moment, he could not say a word.
His mouth hung open, frozen in place.
Though he was a seasoned statesman, he had never imagined such a situation.
The court froze completely.
“Your Majesty!”
The Duke cried out in alarm.
But the instant Wolhwa’s gaze fixed on him, he retreated two steps.
A cold smile hung on Wolhwa’s face.
“Duke.”
She asked slowly,
“You must have seen what just happened. What are your thoughts?”
The Duke’s mouth opened, then closed.
No words came out.
“We shall make this perfectly clear. We dispense rewards and punishments to all without fail.”
Her gaze swept over the ministers one by one.
“Even if another had been there in Yuk Yunseo’s place yesterday—We would have used that person in the same way.”
A brief silence.
Then Wolhwa spoke her final words.
“Do not look down on Us.”
Her gaze sank, cold and composed.
“If you take Us lightly, there is only one end. Death.”
As soon as those words fell, Yunseo was the first to kneel.
“Your Majesty’s will is most just.”
Yunseol knelt after him as well.
“I shall obey Your Majesty’s command.”
At that moment.
Another movement arose from one side of the court.
The upright officials who had until now been suppressed by the entrenched powers began kneeling one by one.
“We shall obey Your Majesty’s command!”
“We shall follow Your Majesty’s decree!”
The main hall shook with their voices.
Jang Munyeon and the Duke’s faces stiffened at the same time.
The balance of the court had just begun to tilt.