The State Duke opened his mouth, but in the end, he could not utter a single word.
He knew he had to refute it, yet he could not decide how to respond.
It was then.
One person stepped forward and knelt.
“Your Majesty.”
He bowed his head deeply.
“That silver was coveted by this lowly subject.”
In an instant, the entire court was abuzz.
All gazes converged on one spot.
Every eye was one of disbelief.
“…What?”
“Him…?”
The faces of the ministers who recognized him stiffened.
The one who had spoken was a Censor renowned for his integrity.
A man who would not easily overlook even the most trivial matter.
That he was a corrupt official was preposterous.
“Your Majesty, this is impossible!”
Immediately, a minister stepped forward.
It was Jo Hyeong, Secretary of the Ministry of Works.
“Anyone might be capable of greed, but not him. He would never do such a thing!”
“Audacious!”
At that moment, Jang Munyeon’s voice cut through.
“Since when does a Secretary of the Ministry of Works wag his tongue in court?”
His gaze flashed sharply.
“His Majesty has not yet spoken. Did you dare think to step forward before Him?”
Jo Hyeong’s face stiffened.
Then, Wolhwa let out a light cough.
“Enough.”
At that single word, Jang Munyeon immediately bowed his head.
“Your Majesty, this lowly subject was rash. I feared I might sully Your Majesty’s dignity… Please forgive me.”
Wolhwa raised her hand to stop him.
“That is enough.”
She spoke calmly.
“If the words came from loyalty, We do not take issue with them.”
And she slowly rose from her seat.
Wolhwa’s gaze descended and reached the kneeling man.
“Censor.”
She called out in a cold, frozen voice.
“You say you coveted it?”
A brief silence flowed and suffocating stillness descended.
“If so, I shall ask.”
One step.
She approached him.
“With your circumstances, could you have coveted so much silver and yet lived as you do until now?”
The entire court held its breath and fell silent.
“You manage a household worse than a seventh-rank official, yet you are a corrupt official? Do you think that makes sense?”
The Censor’s shoulders began to tremble noticeably.
As the trembling grew—
*Thud.*
Without any hesitation, he smashed his head against the floor.
“Your Majesty!”
A voice still shaking came out raggedly.
“Kill this subject!”
Murmurs burst from throughout the court.
“If You leave him like this, the court will fall into chaos!”
His voice burst out louder.
“I would rather take the crime upon myself and die!”
In an instant, Wolhwa’s expression hardened like stone.
“…Very well.”
Her gaze wavered for a moment before settling coldly.
To save one State Duke, they challenge Our authority?
Wolhwa’s hand slowly clenched.
Anger surged like boiling water, but she suppressed it in an instant.
And she opened her mouth again as if nothing had happened.
“Censor. We know you are not a corrupt official.”
She deliberately stopped speaking and took a brief breath.
“Do not needlessly step forward seeking death. There is no need to act so noble as to bear another’s crime in their place.”
All sound cut off.
And—
A single word split that silence.
“If you open your mouth one more time.”
Her eyes shone terrifyingly.
“We shall behead your nine clans, every last one. If that is the loyalty you desire, We shall gladly grant it.”
The Censor prostrated himself where he was.
“Your Majesty! Please spare me! I will never… dare…”
The entire court was left speechless in shock.
Yunseo watched this quietly.
And he nodded slightly.
This was not a place that anyone could shake at will.
The Empress had just clearly shown them that.
The Censor.
Yunseo’s eyes narrowed.
His name had not been in the ledger received from Myeongwolru.
Yet he had shaken the board to this extent.
*‘A useful man.’*
But—
*‘Dangerous.’*
Yunseo stepped forward.
His gaze immediately descended upon him.
“You said you act for Your Majesty’s sake. Yet you speak of Your Majesty’s affairs and judge them?”
A voice that struck heavily.
“Is that what a subject does?”
The Censor’s face turned pale.
The moment he tried to open his mouth—
“Hold your tongue.”
Yunseo raised his hand.
“Not a single word until I am finished speaking.”
Yunseo spoke lower.
“What Your Majesty has given you is grace. Yet you take it for granted. And—”
The air pulled taut.
“You offer your lives to another man.”
Flustered expressions spread throughout.
“Is that loyalty? Is that for the sake of the nation?”
His gaze swept across the ministers gathered in the court one by one.
“Just whose loyalty is this?”
No one could answer.
“Surely—”
It was a cold and dry voice.
“You do not serve the State Duke as your emperor, do you?”
In an instant, the court was engulfed in commotion.
“Yuk Yunseo!”
The State Duke finally exploded.
Suppressed anger surged in an instant, and his face flushed red.
“You insolent wretch—!”
Unable to endure it, he stomped his foot violently.
“How dare you slander the State Duke!”
Yunseo scoffed.
“Slander?”
He retorted sharply.
“I merely spoke the truth.”
And one step.
He stood before Jang Munyeon.
“If you had no such intention—”
His gaze descended as if crushing his opponent.
“When that man just stepped forward to die in his place, you, State Duke, should have stepped forward first.”
Those words were like a blade flying straight at the State Duke.
“How could you simply watch in silence?”
The State Duke’s mouth stiffened.
Not missing that opening, Jang Munyeon quickly stepped forward and knelt.
“Your Majesty.”
He bowed his head deeply.
“Did you see?”
It was a calm voice.
“Yuk Yunseo is now dividing the court. He is inciting the ministers’ resentment and trying to throw the nation into chaos.”
His words rang clearly.
“This man must be severely punished for the people’s hearts to settle.”
“Enough.”
Wolhwa’s hand rose.
A single motion.
That was enough.
Jang Munyeon’s words were cut off just like that.
His face turned pale.
“We are watching.”
It was a calm single phrase.
“Who is doing what.”
The air sank heavily.
Yunseo opened his mouth.
It was a serene voice, as if nothing had happened.
“Your Majesty. There is no need to raise your voice over this matter.”
His gaze turned toward the State Duke.
“The conclusion has already been reached.”
While the court was abuzz again, Yunseo did not waver an inch.
“What is important is from now on.”
His eyes narrowed.
“We must verify how far this matter extends.”
Wolhwa’s gaze completely changed.
“Very well. Continue.”
With those words, the court fell silent.
Yunseo bowed his head.
“I shall obey your command.”
And—
He raised his head in one motion.
“I shall report to Your Majesty. Jin Seok’s corrupt acts are connected to the State Duke’s estate.”
The court instantly surged uncontrollably.
The State Duke’s eyes shook violently.
But Yunseo did not stop.
“Therefore, the entire State Duke’s estate must be investigated.”
The sword was already drawn.
Now all that remained was to see it through to the end.
Wolhwa immediately opened her mouth.
“Very well. We permit it.”
Her voice echoed in the court.
“From now on, all expenditures and ledgers of the State Duke’s estate are to be reported to Yuk Yunseo.”
In an instant, the State Duke’s face twisted as if collapsing.
“Your Majesty…!”
Words would not come out.
It was no different from having his lifeline already gripped.
Jang Munyeon’s eyes deepened.
*‘This bastard…’*
How far does he intend to push this?
He does not even give us room to breathe.
Wolhwa’s gaze turned toward Yunseo.
Their eyes met for a very brief moment.
There was no need for a long exchange.
The two already knew how this would end.
This was no coincidence.
It was a flow planned from the beginning.
Wolhwa’s voice spread again.
“Transmit the decree.”
The court tensed again.
“The Censor has committed rudeness in court, so he is dismissed from office.”
The air stopped and did not flow.
“His descendants are also barred from taking the civil service examination.”
The court froze completely.
“Your Majesty!”
The State Duke hastily stepped forward.
“This is—!”
At that moment.
*Shing—*
A sword was drawn.
It was Yunseo.
The blade pointed straight at the State Duke.
“Hold your tongue.”
Only killing intent resided in his gaze.
“It is a command given by the Monarch.”
He took another step toward the State Duke.
“If you speak further, I shall personally stop you.”
Only the sounds of swallowed breath flowed among the ministers.
Jang Munyeon’s fist clenched tightly.
Anger welled up.
It squirmed as if it would burst out at any moment, but he could not move.
This was a sword the Empress had personally placed in his hand.
It was then.
“Your Majesty.”
Another voice emerged.
It was So Yunseol.
She stepped forward.
“This subject shall accompany him.”
And she bowed her head deeply.
“Together with Lord Yuk Yunseo, I shall protect Your Majesty’s nation.”
After taking a breath, she spoke again.
“Those who block Your Majesty—”
Her gaze was dyed with killing intent in an instant.
“Must all be cut down.”
Jang Munyeon’s gaze fixed upon her.
*‘That wench…’*
His eyes narrowed.
So the one spared then has returned to become the root of disaster.
Wolhwa rose from her seat.
And she nodded.
“Very well. General So. Move together.”