“What are you doing!”
Jang Munyeon’s face turned deathly pale.
Ignoring his own disheveled state, he sprang to his feet and glared at the ministers.
“You petty men who cling to power! Are you not ashamed to debase yourselves like this while watching the Emperor’s mood?”
A stir swept through the main hall.
His words were plainly aimed at the officials who had just knelt.
But then—
A cold voice fell.
“Those words… are they meant for Us?”
Wolhwa’s gaze sank, chillingly cold.
She knew all too well what kind of man Jang Munyeon was.
This old fox was not someone who would ever withdraw meekly.
Inspector Censor.
Though it was a low office of the Senior Seventh Rank, its authority was by no means light.
It was a position that toured the provinces, inspected officials, examined the people’s affairs, and corrected corruption in the court.
Since ancient times, it had been an important post present in every dynasty.
And yet there was only one reason Jang Munyeon was opposing it so fiercely.
The moment Yunseo sat in that seat, another blade beyond his reach would be born.
Jang Munyeon had controlled the court for far too long.
And so he had forgotten.
Who the master of this country was.
Killing intent slowly gathered in Wolhwa’s eyes.
“Jang Munyeon.”
Her voice was quiet, but it had sunk heavily.
“If you truly believe Us to be an incompetent ruler…”
She took one step forward.
“Then try deposing Us right here.”
The main hall froze in an instant.
“If not for Yuk Yunseo yesterday, We would already have lost Our life. And yet, does it displease you that We now stand here and speak these words?”
During the brief silence that followed, Jang Munyeon’s face stiffened.
In the end, he knelt.
“How could this subject dare harbor such intentions?”
Jang Munyeon’s voice was calm, but unmistakable defiance lay within it.
However, he could not press any further here and now.
The Emperor had already raised the matter to a line from which he could only retreat.
The moment he opposed her any further, it would become treason.
He lowered his head and clenched his teeth.
And, still without raising his head, he glanced toward one side of the court.
At the clean and upright officials who had just knelt in support of the Empress.
‘Those bastards….’
Jang Munyeon’s eyes flashed sharply.
Men who had usually held their breath in silence.
He had thought they knew how to read the political tide, but in the end, they had been scheming to attach themselves to the Emperor and seek office.
But reality was not that simple.
Jang Munyeon and the Duke had also been constantly drawing court ministers to their side and expanding their power.
Thus, even at this moment, the entire court had not turned to the Emperor’s side.
Rather, the situation within the main hall had split into three factions.
Those who supported the Emperor.
Those who followed the Chancellor and the Duke.
And those who stood with neither side, merely watching the situation unfold.
But one thing was clear.
After today, this court would no longer be the court it had once been.
“Your Majesty!”
At that moment, one man stepped forward.
Hwang Jeonghyeon, Vice Minister of Rites, quickly walked out and knelt.
“It is true that Yuk Yunseo rendered merit.”
He opened his mouth cautiously.
“However, he is a martial man to the end. He is merely accustomed to wielding a blade and is clumsy in matters of discussing state affairs.”
His voice, too, was outwardly respectful.
But every one of his words contained unmistakable pressure.
“How could such a man assume the office of Inspector Censor?”
Wolhwa looked down at him silently.
She already knew this man’s inner thoughts as well.
Hwang Jeonghyeon.
Jang Munyeon’s disciple.
And one of Jang Munyeon’s most loyal close aides in the court.
His stepping forward here today was ultimately to draw a blade on Jang Munyeon’s behalf.
Wolhwa’s gaze wavered briefly.
Anger still remained within her over her inability to punish Jang Munyeon directly.
Wolhwa slowly turned her gaze.
And looked at Yunseo.
“Yuk Yunseo.”
She spoke low.
“We hate most those who merely parrot the words of others. This man is outwardly pretending to observe propriety while pressuring Us.”
After a brief silence, she asked,
“What would you do?”
Every gaze in the main hall fixed upon Yunseo.
Yunseo did not hesitate for even a moment.
“Punish him.”
With that single word, Hwang Jeonghyeon’s face went white.
“How dare you—!”
He sprang to his feet.
But Yunseo’s gaze did not waver in the slightest.
He slowly opened his mouth.
“Why should you not?”
His resolute voice cut through the main hall.
“For one who is a subject, obeying the ruler’s command comes first.”
His gaze pierced straight through Hwang Jeonghyeon.
“What you are doing right now is precisely—”
Yunseo’s voice sank low.
“An act of insulting your sovereign. You deserve punishment.”
The air in the main hall froze once more.
“Your Majesty, spare me!”
Hwang Jeonghyeon collapsed to the floor as if crumpling, dropping to his knees.
His body trembled violently.
All color had already drained from his face.
The confident figure who had been holding forth before the court just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
Had his tension loosened even a little more, he would have soiled himself right there on the floor.
The gazes of the ministers standing in the main hall all turned toward him at once.
But his humiliation was not yet over.
Yunseo walked forward.
Then, as if it were nothing, he seized Hwang Jeonghyeon by the collar and hauled him up.
A sneer lingered in his eyes.
“You spoke quite boldly just moments ago.”
Yunseo spoke low.
“You said I could not be entrusted with the office of Inspector Censor. That I was clumsy in matters of discussing the court.”
He tilted his head slightly.
“And yet, the moment punishment is mentioned, you immediately beg for your life.”
A faint mockery rose at the corner of his mouth.
“Just where does your loyalty lie?”
The main hall fell silent.
Yunseo’s gaze moved slowly.
And for an instant, it brushed past Jang Munyeon.
“Surely…”
His voice dropped even lower.
“You were not merely acting as someone else’s mouthpiece?”
“Yuk Yunseo!”
Jang Munyeon shouted furiously.
His face had already hardened with rage.
“Do not speak nonsense!”
He ground his teeth and continued.
“Whatever that man said has nothing to do with me!”
“Ah, is that so?”
Yunseo shrugged.
Then he let go.
Hwang Jeonghyeon collapsed back onto the floor with a thud.
Yunseo spread both hands and spoke calmly.
“I am merely a lowly guard.”
His tone was composed.
“The position of Inspector Censor must be far too much for someone like me to hold.”
He slowly looked around the main hall.
Then spoke again.
“But let me ask one thing. Here and now—”
Yunseo’s gaze passed over the ministers one by one.
“Who can assume that office?”
Jang Munyeon’s mouth opened briefly, then closed again.
Inspector Censor.
That position was not a simple official post.
It was a role that traveled through the provinces, inspected officials, and dug out corruption.
At times, it was a role that required one to risk even one’s life.
There was no one within this court now who could shoulder such work.
Yunseo’s nature was upright.
If he truly took that seat, he would pursue hidden matters to the very end.
And Jang Munyeon knew better than anyone what might be revealed in the process.
Thud.
Jang Munyeon suddenly dropped to his knees on the floor.
“Your Majesty!”
His voice rang through the main hall.
“This man is publicly insulting a court minister!”
He shouted with his head bowed.
“You must not entrust actual authority to such a man!”
The atmosphere in the main hall grew tense once more.
But Wolhwa smiled.
Very briefly.
“Chancellor.”
She spoke quietly.
“You are a subject with many merits.”
She paused for a moment, then slowly added,
“But it seems your view of the world is somewhat narrow.”
Wolhwa’s gaze looked down upon Jang Munyeon.
“If you believe you have already done all that you can—”
Her voice grew colder.
“It would not be a bad thing for you to return to your hometown and spend your remaining years in peace.”
The main hall instantly fell silent.
Jang Munyeon’s body stiffened.
Never once until now had the Empress spoken such words.
The Duke’s eyes also wavered for a moment.
Only now did he realize it.
The Empress had begun tightening the noose.
But there was no way to overturn the board here and now.
After a moment.
Jang Munyeon lowered his head.
“If Your Majesty trusts him so…”
His voice was low.
“Then try entrusting it to Yuk Yunseo once. However—”
He clenched his teeth again.
“I only hope Your Majesty will not be disappointed.”
Wolhwa answered at once.
“There is no need.”
Her voice was firm.
“If Yuk Yunseo proves incompetent, then it means We have used the wrong man. We will bear that responsibility.”
Once those words fell, the ministers in the main hall could no longer say anything.
The conclusion had already been decided.
Jang Munyeon and the Duke.
The two men glared at Yunseo.
Open hostility filled their eyes.
Only then did Yunseo realize.
When it came to schemes and political maneuvering, Wolhwa was far more skilled than he was.
Though she usually seemed quiet and composed, at the decisive moment, she overturned the board more boldly than anyone.
Jang Munyeon said no more.
He came up with a suitable pretext and hurriedly left the court.
The other ministers, reading the room, withdrew one by one as well.
The main hall gradually emptied.
The last ones remaining were—
Wolhwa and Yunseo.
And a few guards.
Wolhwa slowly opened her mouth.
“Yuk Yunseo.”
Her gaze went straight to him.
“From today onward, you are Our eyes. Whatever happens beneath the court—”
Her eyes shone sharply.
“Report all of it to Us.”
Then she added,
“Do not concern yourself with whoever does what. You need only move as freely as you wish.”
Wolhwa’s voice rang out clearly.
“No matter what slander may be brought against you— We will not believe it.”