Wolhwa slowly nodded.
“…Yes.”
The end of her voice trailed off weakly.
Wasn’t the imperial court originally a cesspool of filth and greed?
If there was profit to be had, anyone would reach out their hand.
And now—
it was the time when that filthy greed began to reveal itself openly.
As Yunseo had said, they would never stay still.
They would definitely move.
And that movement would eventually turn back toward her.
Wolhwa’s gaze sank weakly.
“If left alone, they will move even more brazenly.”
She had already finished her own calculations.
It was then.
“Your Majesty.”
Yunseol stepped forward.
“If Your Majesty trusts me—”
Her words continued resolutely.
“Hand over all those who are suspected. If you give me just the list, I will move directly myself.”
After briefly catching her breath, she added.
“If necessary, even by mobilizing the remaining forces of the Soga—”
“Not yet.”
Wolhwa raised her hand, cutting off any further words.
“It means now is not the time.”
It was clearly a line drawn.
Yunseol closed her mouth.
Now it was solely Wolhwa’s turn to continue speaking.
“They are far more cunning than you think. Quick to notice as well.”
Her gaze deepened.
“If we touch them now—”
Wolhwa, who had stopped speaking, took a long breath.
“We could be the ones discovered first.”
Silence fell for a moment.
“Now is the time to wait.”
Her voice lowered.
“We just need to make them move on their own.”
—
The promised three days were never long.
But during that short time, the court was completely overturned.
The high officials all began to move like people driven to the edge of a cliff.
Silver.
That was the only thing they needed now.
Borrowing.
Scraping together.
Taking out what they had hidden.
Pulling it from anywhere.
They had to survive, even if it meant doing all that.
If they failed to gather it within three days, they would die.
That one fact was driving them to the very end.
But even in the midst of that, emotions remained.
Resentment.
Dissatisfaction.
Rage.
And all those emotions were directed at a single name.
Gang Wolhwa.
The Empress.
“Once we get past this matter, we will not stay still.”
Someone muttered quietly.
And those words quickly passed to other lips.
Thoughts that spread like whispers instantly permeated like air.
But in the end, it was nothing more than shifting the blame for consequences they had brought upon themselves onto others.
Because if they hadn’t gotten involved from the beginning, they wouldn’t have come to this.
Some among them had completely given up.
Those who could not possibly pay it back.
Those who had already stepped in too deep.
They began to convince themselves.
“Not everyone dies anyway.”
“There are bigger fish above. Even if they purge, it will end there.”
Their gazes turned upward.
The Chancellor and the Duke.
As long as they were there, they believed they wouldn’t be the last.
But pathetically, that was a delusion.
Their lives were already placed in a position where the Chancellor and the Duke could cut them down at any time.
Meanwhile.
Yunseo was moving.
He had not merely sat and waited.
He and Yunseol had run around personally.
And—
they confirmed that figures from the Duke’s faction were frequently entering and leaving the Chancellor’s residence.
Jang Munyeon likewise did not block their visits.
This was clear evidence that the two great powers had joined hands and formed a corrupt alliance.
That alone was enough.
When that fact was delivered to Wolhwa.
She did not hesitate for a moment.
Briefly.
She issued only a single command.
“…Kill them.”
—
Commandant’s Quarters.
Yunseol lifted her head upon hearing those words.
“…Is that all?”
Doubt flashed through her mind.
Whom.
How far.
But that standard was never given.
Then.
Yunseo smiled.
“It is enough.”
His words were simple.
“I have already said everything.”
Yunseol narrowed her gaze.
“What do you mean?”
“All who cross the line.”
Yunseo spoke calmly.
“Anyone.”
He added nonchalantly.
“It means kill them.”
Instantly, the air grew heavy.
Yunseol’s expression hardened.
“Then—”
“I will stand in front.”
Yunseo cut in without a moment’s hesitation.
“All the arrows will come to me.”
Yunseol’s lips pressed firmly together.
“That’s—”
“It is necessary.”
Yunseo cut her off once more.
“You need not dirty your hands.”
That single sentence settled everything.
Yunseol said nothing for a while.
Thoughts continued, but at some point, only the words he had left remained.
She slowly nodded.
“…Understood.”
—
That night.
At the time when everything had fallen silent.
The Chancellor’s subordinates moved.
Silencing their presence,
unnoticeably.
The place they headed was the Geumyeong Office.
All preparations were already complete.
Figures gripping sharp weapons in the darkness held their breath, waiting only for the moment of attack.
Considering the entire scale of corruption, the one who had dipped his hands in the deepest was clear.
The Vice Magistrate of Geumyeong.
I Hyeon.
He was an incomparable figure to use as a scapegoat.
Thus the Chancellor’s will had already been handed down.
Kill him.
And cover everything up.
It was when I Hyeon’s palanquin had just come to a halt.
In an instant.
Shadows leaped out.
There was no need for hesitation.
The blade simply fell first.
Toward the neck.
They intended to finish it in one breath.
Then.
Shhhwoook—!
A sharp sound of tearing air burst forth.
An arrow cut through the darkness, flying in precisely.
Thwack.
The palm of the one holding the blade was pierced straight through.
“Kuaaack—!”
As the scream rang out, the man collapsed.
At that moment.
Troops poured out from all sides.
It was the Geumgun.
They rushed in quickly as if they had been waiting, subduing them in an instant.
The remaining men were all captured without even getting a chance to escape.
Their jaws were roughly seized.
Forced open, and soon dislocated.
It was to prevent suicide.
—
I Hyeon simply slumped to the ground.
Strength had drained from his legs.
His eyes could not properly focus.
“Wh-what… is this…”
Unable to continue speaking, his breath quickened.
Then.
Two people approached.
Yunseol.
And—
Yunseo.
Yunseo looked down at him and smiled.
It was an expression close to mockery.
“Vice Magistrate I Hyeon.”
A hint of laughter was buried even in his voice.
“It seems you have touched a side you should not have.”
At those words.
I Hyeon’s face completely collapsed.
And water spread across his trousers.
He had already completely broken down.
“Th-this… is not… I—”
I Hyeon stammered.
Then suddenly his pupils shook greatly, and soon as if something had flashed by, his gaze snapped up.
He suddenly let out a scream.
“The Chancellor—!”
I Hyeon shouted at the top of his lungs.
“The Chancellor is trying to kill me!”
At the moment those words fell, Yunseo’s hand moved immediately.
He roughly grabbed I Hyeon’s collar.
“Those words.”
And he spat out dryly.
“Say them before Her Majesty.”
He dragged I Hyeon along just like that.
—
The Imperial Palace.
I Hyeon was thrown directly before Wolhwa.
He rolled across the floor.
Wolhwa looked down at I Hyeon quietly.
And she smiled.
Coldly.
“Interesting. You were so calm when spending the people’s money—”
Her gaze stabbed down.
“Why are you so unsightly now?”
I Hyeon’s forehead was plastered to the floor.
“Your Majesty—! Please spare me!”
He smashed his head against the floor like a madman.
“This subject had no choice! It was all the Chancellor—!”
I Hyeon poured out as if his breath would break.
“He gave us money and told us to join his side, I merely—!”
“Enough.”
Wolhwa mercilessly cut him off.
A single word.
The moment that short syllable fell, all sound ceased.
“The Chancellor?”
Her gaze tilted minutely.
“Do I look like such a worthless person to you?”
A sneer hung at Wolhwa’s lips.
“He is someone I raised.”
And she swept her gaze down as if looking down from above.
“I have no intention of letting you diminish his worth with your mouth.”
I Hyeon’s face turned deathly pale.
Then.
Wolhwa raised her head.
“Yuk Yunseo.”
Her gaze reached Yunseo.
“Send him back to the Chancellor.”
Silence flowed for a moment.
Wolhwa’s words continued, cutting through that silence.
“Deliver my will as well.”
The air grew heavy.
“This matter. The Chancellor will handle it personally.”
Her eyes had gone completely cold.
“Recover all the embezzled silver within three days.”
It was a voice devoid of a single emotion.
“Not one piece missing.”
Yunseo’s eyes narrowed.
The meaning of that command was clear.
Gyeoksandaeu.
Instead of punishing the Chancellor’s crimes directly.
Have him recover all the silver, emptying his pockets, and make him cut down with his own hands those who betrayed him.
A masterstroke.
“Understood.”
He asked no further.
—
The Chancellor’s residence.
I Hyeon was dragged back here and thrown before Jang Munyeon.
Yunseo opened his mouth.
“Chancellor.”
He spoke coldly.
“I have already delivered Her Majesty’s will.”
He briefly caught his breath with composure before continuing.
“Three days.”
Yunseo’s gaze pinned Jang Munyeon.
“If you fail to finish within that time—”
That gaze pressed down on him like killing intent.
“His death will not be the end of it.”
Yunseo finished speaking and immediately turned to leave.
Then.
“Wait.”
Jang Munyeon urgently stepped forward.
His expression was subtly stiff.
“Lord Yuk.”
He approached.
There was a forced smile on his face.
“Letting you leave like this leaves my heart uneasy.”
He tried to catch his breath for a moment, but his breathing flowed erratically of its own accord.
“Won’t you stop by for a moment?”
Their gazes intertwined.
“Have a cup of tea at least.”
His intentions were obvious.
Yunseo knew that.
Nevertheless, he did not refuse.
This was an opportunity.
“Very well.”
Yunseo answered calmly.
“How could I refuse when the Chancellor calls?”
Jang Munyeon’s expression relaxed.
“Haha, as expected, you are magnanimous.”
He immediately gave an order.
“Throw I Hyeon into prison.”
And added shortly.
“I will interrogate him personally tomorrow.”
Jang Munyeon extended his hand toward Yunseo.
“Please, come in.”
The corners of his mouth rose.
“Today, we must drink until the end.”