The Duke of State nodded, as though lost in thought for a moment.
“You are right. I shall think on it a little more. I will give you an answer within the day.”
Around that time.
Yunseo and Yunseol were opening the second page of the ledger they had received from Myeongwollu.
The moment they confirmed the people and incidents recorded there, both their faces stiffened at once.
Yunseol’s reaction was especially severe.
It was because she had learned that the reason her family had fallen was merely the jealousy of Central Secretariat Director Son Seok and Minister of War Jo Ung.
The So family had nearly been annihilated.
The only one left now was So Yunseol.
The instant she recalled that fact, her eyes flushed red.
Without saying a word, Yunseol gripped her spear and tried to head outside.
But at that moment—
Yunseo swiftly blocked her path.
“Don’t go.”
Yunseol clenched her teeth.
“Yuk Yunseo, do you know how many people died in our So family?”
“I do.”
Yunseo’s face had also hardened.
“But if you go now… it is no different from going to your death.”
He continued in a low voice.
“Central Secretariat Director Son Seok belongs to Prime Minister Jang Munyeon’s faction, and Minister of War Jo Ung has joined hands with the Duke of State. If those two forces combine, they can shake the entire court. How do you intend to face them alone?”
For a moment, Yunseol could not speak.
But soon she clenched her teeth and opened her mouth again.
“Then Her Majesty can step forward herself, can she not?”
Right now, she simply wanted to grasp at anything.
Yunseo shook his head.
“Being the Empress does not mean she can do everything as she pleases.”
He spoke calmly.
“She, too, has always wanted to confront those two old foxes head-on. But could matters possibly be resolved so simply? They are by no means easy opponents.”
After the previous assassin incident, Yunseo had watched Wolhwa’s actions in court and come to realize one thing clearly.
No matter how high one’s martial arts were, if one acted rashly without knowing schemes and stratagems, what awaited in the end was only death.
After being lost in thought for a moment, Yunseo opened his mouth as though he had made up his mind.
“Starting today, let us each gather information.”
Yunseol raised her head.
“We will use our respective identities to collect different information. Then let us meet at this time every day and compare what we have found. It is to prepare for any unforeseen situation.”
Yunseol was silent for a long while.
But in the end, she nodded.
“…Fine. For now, that seems to be the only way.”
In truth, Yunseo had no other choice.
Most of the ministers in the current court had private soldiers under their command.
At least a thousand, and in many cases far more than that.
If they joined hands, that power could never be ignored.
Though Wolhwa had forcibly promoted him and given him the post of Inspector Censor, allowing him to enter court wearing a sword, if he let his guard down even a little, he could become the target of treacherous officials at any moment.
In the end, there was only one certain method.
To grow his own power.
And to join hands with Wolhwa and seize control of military authority.
Only then would he finally be able to fight back.
Yunseo looked at Yunseol and said,
“Today, I intend to enter the palace and see His Majesty. And I intend to tell her about growing my secret organization.”
Yunseol’s brows furrowed subtly.
“That is true. But… what if Her Majesty suspects you? Then you may find it even harder to extricate yourself.”
Yunseo understood well what those words meant.
But in the current situation, retreating was not the answer.
He lightly patted Yunseol on the shoulder.
“So do not move rashly. Protecting yourself comes first. There is a proper time for everything.”
—
Meanwhile.
Wolhwa was briefly surprised upon receiving the report that Yunseo had personally requested an audience.
These days, the two of them had been deliberately keeping their distance.
It was to prevent needless rumors from spreading.
But that did not mean the situation was one in which she could feel at ease.
After Yunseo stopped appearing at the palace, it had become increasingly difficult to grasp what moves he was making outside.
That, too, was no small matter.
A short while later—
Yunseo entered the bedchamber.
He looked brimming with energy.
The moment she saw him, Wolhwa’s brows furrowed despite herself.
“You seem to be quite at ease these days.”
She spoke coldly.
“I hear you have been sparring with your colleagues… or else going to see So Yunseol.”
She did not directly take issue with the relationship between the two of them, but there was no need to explain what those words meant.
Yunseo gave a faint laugh.
Then he slowly approached her.
“Your Majesty does not know.”
He spoke in a low voice.
“Just how fortunate you are.”
He paused briefly, then opened his mouth again.
“So Yunseol and I are currently looking for a way to set the court right for Your Majesty.”
However, Wolhwa’s suspicion did not easily disappear.
Rather, her brows furrowed even more deeply.
“We are the emperor.”
She spoke in a low voice.
“Such matters are for us to handle personally. Why is there any need for you to step forward?”
Those words contained clear wariness.
Yunseo noticed it.
But this time, he did not back down.
As he took one step closer, Wolhwa’s heart wavered wildly for an instant.
“Yuk Yunseo, do not do anything unnecessary.”
She spoke quickly.
“Some matters cannot be resolved through impulse.”
Yunseo looked at her for a while, then suddenly smiled.
“What are you thinking right now, Your Majesty?”
He asked calmly.
“Are you worried that I might act discourteously toward you?”
Wolhwa’s eyelids trembled faintly for an instant.
Yunseo continued.
“There is only one thing I wish to tell you. No matter how important the affairs of the court are… nothing is more important than the power Your Majesty holds in your own hands.”
The moment those words fell—
Wolhwa’s eyes flashed.
“What do you mean?”
She asked quietly.
“What are you trying to do?”
Yunseo steadied his breath for a moment, then said,
“It is nothing grand. I simply wish to gather talented people from among the common folk. I intend to gather righteous individuals and create an organization. And… I will take them in under my own name.”
Wolhwa’s gaze deepened.
Yunseo’s words were no simple proposal.
If taken the wrong way, they could become a declaration that he would build his own faction.
Countless thoughts flashed through Wolhwa’s mind.
Could it be…
Because she had trusted him too much, had he also begun to covet power?
Or—
Was he trying to use this opportunity to take control of the court?
When her thoughts reached that point, Wolhwa’s face slowly hardened.
She rose from her seat.
Just as she was about to open her mouth and rebuke him—
Yunseo spoke first.
“I will not use Your Majesty’s name.”
He spoke calmly.
“That way, even if the matter grows large, the arrows will not be aimed at Your Majesty. Even if someone grows angry… they will target only me, not you.”
Yunseo’s attitude was resolute.
He knew it was important to obtain the emperor’s permission in advance.
Only then could he prevent others from finding fault with him later.
To prepare to protect himself under the emperor’s name.
That, too, was one method.
Silence flowed for a moment.
Wolhwa’s heart was tangled in complexity.
If she accepted this proposal, Yunseo could become yet another variable, in addition to the enemies she had to face.
Power always changed people, after all.
Originally, it was something she should have refused.
But the current her did not have many choices.
The authority of the court had already been divided among various ministers.
To stand against them, she needed Yunseo’s strength.
Wolhwa quietly asked,
“How long will it take? To cultivate useful talent, I mean.”
After thinking for a moment, Yunseo answered,
“One month will be enough. When that time comes… I will personally escort Your Majesty and show you.”
Wolhwa raised a hand to stop him.
“Wait.”
She dismissed the attendants beside her.
Now only the two of them remained in the bedchamber.
Wolhwa slowly approached Yunseo.
Then she looked him over from head to toe, as though examining him.
Yunseo wore a slightly troubled expression.
“Your Majesty… do you still have something to say?”
At that moment—
Wolhwa raised her hand and gently lifted his chin.
Then she smiled faintly.
“I simply grew curious all of a sudden. Yuk Yunseo, your face is handsome enough… so is there perhaps someone outside to whom you have given your heart?”
Yunseo froze for an instant, then soon smiled.
“My household has already fallen. Who would risk danger to draw close to me? Your Majesty jests needlessly.”
What Yunseo had said today was something that, ordinarily, would not have been strange even if it cost him his life.
Those who coveted power usually began like this.
At first, it was to protect themselves.
And in the end, they came to desire more.
Wolhwa took another step closer.
Then she spoke quietly.
“Yuk Yunseo. You and we… have shared life and death, have we not?”
“So I will ask.”
Her gaze pointed straight at him.
“Do you have any thought of becoming our consort? If you become our consort… you will stand beneath one and above ten thousand.”
Yunseo was silent for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
“Your Majesty.”
He slowly offered his respects.
“I merely wish to remain a loyal subject. I have no intention of plotting rebellion.”
He continued calmly.
“So you need not test me any further. Your Majesty’s marriage… will have no tie to me.”
Yunseo knew well.
No matter what feelings Wolhwa might harbor, she would never let go of power.
And so, the words she had spoken just now had also been nothing more than a test for him.
Yunseo quietly thought to himself.
I will create a secret force without fail.
However—
Whether that army would truly be only for the Empress… even he himself did not yet know.