“Your Majesty’s decision this time… will bring no small amount of trouble upon Your Majesty as well.”
Yunseo spoke cautiously.
Anyone who recalled what had just happened in court could only think the same.
Though the ministers had bowed their heads as if supporting the Emperor on the surface, there would not be many who followed her will in their hearts.
Yet Wolhwa smiled as though she did not care.
“You need only work for me.”
Her voice was calm.
“I will personally handle the rest in court.”
Wolhwa knew better than anyone.
Court ministers were people who gathered for profit and scattered once that profit disappeared.
It was better not to expect anything like sincere loyalty from the start.
They were people who could cast aside even their parents and siblings for the sake of their own future, so what could she possibly trust?
Wolhwa laughed softly.
“Yuk Yunseo.”
She spoke in a low voice.
“At present, I am effectively isolated in court.”
Her gaze deepened slightly.
“That is why I placed you in an important position. Only then can I regain power.”
A brief silence passed, and Wolhwa opened her mouth again.
“Jang Munyeon and the State Duke.”
A coldness flickered through her eyes.
“On the surface, it may seem as though they had no choice but to retreat… but there is no way they will give up like this. Even though I granted you the authority of an Inspector Censor, they will surely resort to another move.”
Yunseo nodded.
“I know.”
He had already sensed it as well.
An assassin who had targeted the Emperor had moved within the palace.
Moreover, the assassin’s sword had been engraved with a mark used by the government offices.
That meant—
The old fox known as Jang Munyeon still had a hidden card left.
Yunseo tightened his guard even further in his heart.
“I will be careful from now on.”
At that moment, Wolhwa spoke again.
“From today onward, you may enter court wearing your sword.”
Yunseo’s eyes widened subtly.
“If you obtain definite evidence…”
Wolhwa’s voice sank coldly.
“You may cut them down before reporting to me. I will take responsibility afterward.”
After a moment of silence, Yunseo lowered his head.
“Understood. If Your Majesty says so… then I will do this properly.”
Answering in a low voice, he turned away.
But then—
“Yuk Yunseo.”
Wolhwa called him to a stop.
Yunseo halted.
“Does Your Majesty have something more to say?”
Wolhwa immediately shook her head.
Then she slowly approached him.
Her gaze lingered on Yunseo for a while, as though she were examining something.
After a moment, she opened her mouth.
“It seems you have been returning late quite often lately.”
Wolhwa’s eyes narrowed.
“What on earth have you been doing?”
Yunseo shook his head.
“I have merely been gathering information for Your Majesty. It is nothing Your Majesty needs to worry about.”
Wolhwa’s gaze grew somewhat clouded.
A deep disappointment crossed her expression.
“Do not try to deceive me.”
She spoke firmly.
“I am telling you not to use the same methods you use to deceive others on me.”
Wolhwa’s gaze went straight to Yunseo.
“Yuk Yunseo. Whatever it is, you must tell me.”
For an instant, Yunseo’s heart flinched.
The Empress’s senses were far sharper than he had expected.
It seemed she had already vaguely noticed.
The things Yunseo was investigating separately at Cheongugak.
And—
Even the existence of the small notebook he was hiding.
Of course, all of it was for the sake of the court.
But Yunseo knew just how dangerous it was.
The Empress before him showed him favor, but when faced with matters of court and power, she was someone who would swing her blade without hesitating for even a single moment.
That was why he was guarding himself.
So that he would not sink too deeply into private feelings for the Empress.
Yunseo clasped his hands and offered his respects.
“If Your Majesty feels uneasy, you may assign someone to watch me.”
His voice was composed.
“I have no intention of betraying Your Majesty. I am only investigating a few matters.”
He added,
“One must be careful when going around questioning people. Anger must not fall upon the witnesses for no reason. The moment the ministers learn of the people’s resentment… they will surely take it out on the people.”
Every word sounded as though it was for the people, but Wolhwa knew that it was not the complete truth.
Even so—
She could not press him further.
Because she also knew Yunseo bore no malice.
Wolhwa slowly took another step forward.
Then, as though it were nothing, she raised her hand.
Her hand lightly settled on Yunseo’s shoulder.
A brief silence.
Wolhwa spoke quietly.
“Yuk Yunseo.”
Her voice was lower than before.
“Do you know… what kind of existence you are to me?”
Yunseo paused for a moment.
Then, before long, he smiled faintly.
“Your Majesty has always believed in me.”
His voice was calm.
“So please protect that trust until the end. In the end, I am someone who will stand on Your Majesty’s side.”
For an instant, Wolhwa could say nothing.
Her hand slowly fell from Yunseo’s shoulder.
Originally, she had wanted to share a cup of wine with him tonight and speak of old stories.
But now—
A strangely unfamiliar air flowed between the two of them.
Wolhwa let out a short sigh.
“…Very well.”
She nodded.
“If you say so, then I will give you that trust as well.”
After a long silence, she added,
“I will not ask further from now on. Only… do not do anything that will place me in difficulty.”
Yunseo silently offered his respects.
Then he turned and left the imperial bedchamber.
At that moment—
He clearly saw it.
The cold killing intent that had flashed through the depths of Wolhwa’s eyes.
Yunseo smiled bitterly inwardly.
Now he knew for certain.
That woman’s tenderness, too—was ultimately nothing more than a blade she held.
If he entrusted himself to that blade, then in the end, he would be the one cut down.
Around that time.
Frequent movements continued at the State Duke’s residence and the Chancellor’s residence.
Jang Munyeon and the State Duke secretly came and went, holding several private discussions.
Both of them were greatly enraged by the Empress’s recent actions.
“Chancellor.”
The State Duke paced the room with a heavy expression.
“About that assassin incident…”
Jang Munyeon raised a hand and stopped him.
A cold chill flickered through his eyes.
“There is no need to speak further of that matter.”
He spoke in a low voice.
“Since His Majesty has already promoted Yuk Yunseo, it will be difficult to act recklessly within the palace from now on.”
The State Duke’s face stiffened.
“Then are you saying we should simply let that young Empress seize our power as she pleases?”
He frowned.
“Surely you have not forgotten, Chancellor. As we discussed before… once time passes—”
“There is no need to be impatient.”
Jang Munyeon slowly waved his fan and gave a faint laugh.
“That little girl may have backbone, but she is not invincible.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Did you not see? She relies on Yuk Yunseo for everything. Yuk Yunseo may be ignorant of political affairs, but his martial arts are excellent.”
Jang Munyeon continued slowly.
“If a rift forms between that man and the Empress… then we can draw him to our side.”
The State Duke raised his brows.
“Will that be possible?”
He shook his head.
“From what I can see, that man’s character is quite stubborn. He does not seem like someone who will be moved easily.”
“That depends on how it is done.”
The corners of Jang Munyeon’s mouth slowly rose.
A crafty light filled his eyes.
“What the Empress wants, in the end, is only the dismantling of our faction.”
He laughed softly.
“Then for now, we shall let her have a small taste. And later, we will collect it all back with interest on top of the principal.”
The moment he heard those words, a chill ran down the State Duke’s spine.
“Surely…”
He asked in a low voice.
“You intend to put forward a scapegoat?”
Jang Munyeon finally burst into loud laughter.
Then he pointed at the State Duke with his finger.
“Do not worry. Even if I use a self-injuring stratagem, I will not put you forward.”
He spoke meaningfully.
“You are my most reliable ally, after all.”
That was what he said, but—
Jang Munyeon’s true thoughts were different.
This old State Duke, too, was ultimately nothing more than someone he used, just as the other used him.
The enemy of a political foe was an ally.
That was why the two of them had joined hands.
And so Jang Munyeon was already thinking of something else.
To make one among the people under him into a scapegoat.
Someone like Hwang Jeonghyeon was—to him, nothing more than a nuisance.
Before long, Jang Munyeon turned away.
“We cannot hand the position of Vice Minister of Rites over to His Majesty.”
He spoke firmly.
“Find a new candidate within a few days.”
Then, looking at the State Duke, he added,
“Surely the State Duke does not intend to withdraw from this matter.”
The State Duke’s face stiffened.
“Is Hwang Jeonghyeon not your disciple, Chancellor?”
He asked in a startled voice.
“Surely you do not intend to leave him unsaved?”
Jang Munyeon’s gaze sank icily.
“A useless man…”
He paused for a moment before opening his mouth.
“Has no use but to die.”
His voice was merciless.
“I knew it the moment that fool rushed out thoughtlessly and opposed His Majesty. That he could no longer be allowed to live.”