“If anyone who commits a wrongdoing can end it all with a single sentence, saying they will return to their hometown and spend the rest of their days there…”
Yunseo’s gaze slowly swept across the court.
“How is that any different from giving corrupt officials free rein to run rampant as they please?”
His voice was certainly not loud, yet strangely, it entered the ears of every minister with perfect clarity.
“Is that what the Chancellor wishes to teach this humble subject?”
“Yuk Yunseo!”
Unable to endure it any longer, the Duke of State shouted.
His face had flushed red.
He had already been seething with rage, but what enraged him even more now was something else.
This young Censor was dragging not only him, but even Jang Munyeon, directly into the fray.
If these two began to waver at the same time in court, power would return to the Empress in an instant.
He clenched his teeth.
“As a Censor, your words must have grounds.”
The Duke of State spoke while suppressing his anger.
His voice was one that forcibly feigned composure.
“If they bear some degree of responsibility, then they can be made to compensate for it. If it is to that extent, I will personally have the two of them use their own private funds to aid the people.”
He paused for a moment and glared at Yunseo.
“But that cannot be deemed dereliction of duty.”
Hearing those words, Yunseo gave a faint scoff.
“I see.”
His gaze turned toward the Duke of State.
There was not the slightest hint of retreat in his eyes.
“Could it be that the Chancellor intends to turn this into some admirable tale for them?”
“That is correct.”
The Duke of State spoke proudly.
“If we do not do so, what rumors will spread when the affairs of court ministers reach the ears of the common people?”
His voice rang out firmly.
“The people will mock the court. They will say that even His Majesty has no talented men.”
Yunseo sneered inwardly.
So in the end, these old men still want to preserve their dignity.
The moment he heard their words, he was almost certain.
The mastermind behind this corruption case was, nine times out of ten, connected to these two old men.
But he could not touch the core of their power right now.
Then there was only one choice left.
Jin Seok and Wang Ho.
These two were the key to this case.
Just the fact that trouble had broken out every time relief funds were approved was enough to make the stench overwhelming.
Yunseo had already guessed it.
This was not a simple accident.
The ones who should have been monitoring the funds had instead stolen them themselves.
But to confirm that, he needed to obtain testimony from the officials of the Huainan region.
Only then could he arrest the two immediately.
Yunseo hardened his resolve.
Then he quietly raised his head and looked at Wolhwa.
“Your Majesty.”
He spoke calmly.
“This humble subject will go to Huainan personally.”
The court stirred.
Wolhwa’s expression also stiffened for an instant.
“Yuk Yunseo.”
Her voice sank low.
“I, too, know that you wish to resolve this case.”
After pausing briefly—
“But the road to Huainan is dangerous. If something were to happen to you…”
Yunseo smiled calmly.
“This humble subject is a man who will live for Your Majesty and for all under heaven.”
He deliberately turned his gaze.
Then he slowly swept his eyes over the court ministers.
Toward those who were hiding ulterior motives.
“If this humble subject dies in Huainan…”
His voice rang out serenely.
“That would mean someone sent men to silence me.”
The air in the court froze.
“At that time, Your Majesty need only avenge this humble subject.”
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Yunseo’s mouth.
“But if this humble subject returns safely…”
He continued.
“That will serve as proof that the court is truly clean. It will mean there is not a single treacherous subject among us.”
Jang Munyeon’s hand clenched tightly.
His insides boiled.
Because until just moments ago, he had truly been considering whether to quietly get rid of this young whelp.
But Yunseo had overturned the board first.
Now, if anyone tried to kill him, that would become proof of an attempt by someone within the court to silence him.
And the ones who had attacked Yunseo most fiercely just moments ago were none other than himself and the Duke of State.
Wolhwa’s gaze had already changed.
Jang Munyeon and the Duke of State had pressured her for a long time.
This was the first time she had seen them driven into such a corner.
The look she cast upon Yunseo contained not only admiration.
Another emotion, difficult to explain, had seeped into it as well.
Wolhwa slowly descended from the jade throne and stood before Yunseo.
Then she reached out her hand and personally helped Yunseo, who had been kneeling, to his feet.
She looked at Yunseo for a moment, then nodded.
“Yuk Yunseo. As expected, I judged my man well.”
Wolhwa’s voice spread softly through the court.
“If you hear of crimes even by rumor, investigate them at once, and if there are treacherous subjects, cut them down without mercy. Such matters must all be handled by you in my stead.”
As her words fell upon the court, silence flowed.
After a brief silence, Wolhwa opened her mouth again.
“The lives of the common people have not been good of late. I will have another ten thousand taels of silver released from the state treasury and sent to Huainan. This time, you will personally oversee it. If so, there should be no further problems.”
Yunseo lowered his head and replied.
“I shall obey your command.”
It was then.
The Vice Minister of Works suddenly stepped forward and knelt.
The sound of his knees striking the floor rang out unusually loud.
His body was trembling violently.
The gazes of the court ministers all gathered on him at once.
Yunseo’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Lord Jo.”
He asked in a low voice.
“What is the matter? Is someone perhaps preventing the silver from being released?”
“N-no. There is no such thing. I would not dare say so.”
Jo Hyeong, the Vice Minister of Works, hurriedly shook his head.
“It is just… the Ministry of Works has no more silver.”
The court stirred at once.
Yunseo looked at Jo Hyeong without saying a word.
Jo Hyeong continued in a trembling voice.
“We have already put forward more than ten thousand taels of silver from the Ministry of Works first to aid the refugees. We have requested support from the court several times, but nothing has yet come down. If we are told to provide more silver now… it will be difficult for us to bear.”
Before his words had even ended, one person stepped forward.
It was Jin Seok, the Vice Minister of Revenue.
His face had hardened to an ashen hue.
“Do not speak nonsense!”
Jin Seok’s voice had grown rough with anger.
“Our Ministry of Revenue has already submitted reports to the court as well. Then why is it that your Ministry of Works claims not to have received the court’s reply?”
Anger flashed in Jo Hyeong’s eyes as well.
“Would the Ministry of Revenue not know that better than anyone?”
His breath shook roughly.
“Do you know how much the people are suffering because everything is being skimmed off layer by layer?”
His voice trembled, but within it lay a clear resolve.
“Even now, the truth must be spoken. We cannot allow only the shameless to benefit.”
As the court stirred again, the expressions of several ministers hardened.
Wolhwa nodded.
“Lord Jo’s words have merit as well.”
But soon, her gaze sank coldly.
“However, if you bring this up in the middle of court like this…”
Her voice settled heavily.
“You will soon become a target.”
But Jo Hyeong did not back down in the slightest.
Instead, he straightened his back.
“This subject is not afraid.”
His gaze turned toward Yunseo.
“Is Lord Yuk not standing forth like this as well? If it is for one’s sovereign, what is one’s life worth regretting?”
Jo Hyeong spoke with emphasis.
“Your Majesty, the fact that the court has a Censor like Yuk Yunseo is its fortune. Some people cover their eyes and seek gains for themselves, but such actions only bring disgrace upon the court in the end.”
When those words ended, Wolhwa’s face slowly hardened.
“Then tell me.”
Her voice rang low.
As the entire court held its breath, Wolhwa’s eyes slowly swept across it.
“Do you think this court… is a place where the Chancellor and the Duke of State may do as they please?”
In that instant, the court ministers all knelt as one.
“Of course not!”
“The court belongs to Your Majesty!”
“When Your Majesty commands, we merely obey!”
Wolhwa looked down at them without saying a word.
Then she slowly turned her head.
Her gaze stopped on one person.
It was Yunseo.
“Yuk Yunseo. How do you see it?”
Yunseo smiled lightly.
There was a strangely relaxed air to that smile.
“No matter the matter, there must be grounds.”
His voice was calm.
“One who moves based solely on the words of others will ultimately be acknowledged by no one.”
Wolhwa’s eyes flashed for an instant.
“Good.”
She clapped her hands lightly.
“Then I, too, shall make myself clear.”
Her gaze crossed the court.
There was not the slightest hesitation in those eyes.
“This case of corrupt officials…”
She paused for a moment.
Then slowly continued.
“No matter who is involved, seize them all and drag them before me.”
Wolhwa’s eyes glinted coldly.
It was a gaze like the edge of a blade.
“I will ask them myself whether they still have any conscience left.”