"No matter how I end… that is not something the Chancellor should interfere with. If the court is stable and Your Majesty is at ease—"
Yunseo stopped speaking and slowly turned around.
"Exhausting everything I have is of no consequence."
Jang Munyeon's eyes narrowed.
"Fine."
He spat out through gritted teeth.
"So you're going to see this through to the end. Let's see how far you get."
It was an explicit warning.
Even so, Yunseo didn't bat an eye.
He had known from the very beginning that this man was not someone who would simply back down.
Jang Munyeon's eyes.
There was always calculation lurking within.
He was a man who would bite the moment he saw even the slightest opening.
There was no reason to remain standing here any longer.
Yunseo turned and left the mansion.
Jang Munyeon called for someone the moment he confirmed Yunseo had completely vanished.
"Summon the State Duke."
It was a single utterance laden with barely suppressed fury.
"And… the rest of them as well."
His gaze hardened.
"I have no intention of leaving things as they are."
Meanwhile.
Yunseo had considered heading straight for the palace.
He needed to confirm his next move.
But the sun was already setting.
Going in now would only attract unwanted attention.
He halted his steps.
It was better to postpone until tomorrow.
The moment he reached that conclusion.
It was when he arrived in front of his own mansion.
An unfamiliar palanquin came into view.
It was one used by the palace.
Yunseo's eyes narrowed slightly.
Just then, the palanquin's curtain was drawn back.
And from within, a person revealed themselves.
It was Gang Wolhwa.
"Your Majesty?"
Yunseo's eyes widened for an instant.
"At this hour—"
Before he could finish speaking, Wolhwa stepped down from the palanquin.
Her steps were unusually quick.
And—
Unlike usual, her expression was grave.
"Let us go inside."
There was no further explanation.
But that alone was enough.
One could tell without being told that this was not a good thing.
Yunseo turned without a word.
And led her inside.
Just before crossing the threshold.
Wolhwa looked back.
"You all, return."
Her voice sank low.
"Inform the palace only that I am resting."
Her gaze struck down coldly.
"If a word leaks… you know then, don't you?"
She did not finish the sentence.
There had never been a need to.
"We stake our lives on it."
The bodyguards immediately bowed their heads.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured."
Wolhwa did not look back again.
She grabbed Yunseo's arm and dragged him straight inside.
The moment the door closed, Wolhwa let out a deep breath.
"Ha…"
Her shoulders sagged.
"Really… it's suffocating."
Wolhwa muttered quietly.
"Moving under their eyes all day is driving me mad."
Yunseo said nothing.
He simply watched quietly.
And—
"Your Majesty. You must be careful."
His voice fell steadily.
"There are already too many eyes at court. Coming out like this—"
"This."
It was Wolhwa who cut him off.
She took something from her robes and handed it over as if tossing it.
Yunseo caught it.
It was a tied bundle.
"Tomorrow."
Wolhwa's eyes changed.
"You must wear this and go to court."
Her eyes bored straight into Yunseo.
"Otherwise, even I won't be able to stop this."
The air grew heavy.
Yunseo's gaze turned ice-cold.
"Someone has made their move."
He grasped it immediately.
"The Chancellor?"
"No."
Wolhwa shook her head.
"If it were him, matters would be simpler."
Her gaze stilled and hardened.
Deep worry was contained within.
"This time… it's different."
She rose from her seat.
And after hesitating for a moment, she barely opened her mouth.
"Tomorrow, an envoy arrives. From the west."
Yunseo's eyes wavered slightly.
"A tribute matter."
Wolhwa nodded.
"They intend to reduce it."
The air turned chilly.
"How dare they."
Yunseo's voice was quiet, but the emotion within was rough.
"They must be out of their minds wanting to die."
"I thought the same."
Wolhwa let out a sigh.
"So I had intended… to strike them down immediately."
She couldn't continue speaking and paused.
"But."
Wolhwa swallowed hard.
"The situation is not so simple."
She unrolled a scroll bearing maps of troop deployments.
"Right now in the south, Prince Jeongan is already moving, declaring himself emperor."
Yunseo's gaze fixed sharply.
"If the west were to side with Prince Jeongan in this situation, it's over."
Wolhwa stopped, unable to continue.
"It would become unbearable."
With words cut off, time stretched long.
Only after a long while did Yunseo open his mouth.
"But if we accept it, all the others will come crawling too."
Their gazes collided head-on.
There were no words, but both had reached the same conclusion.
They were caught in a dilemma where neither advance nor retreat was possible.
At that moment—
Wolhwa untied the bundle.
Golden light spread from within.
It was the yellow hemp robe.
She lifted it up.
"That is why I brought this."
Wolhwa's eyes turned to Yunseo.
"Come closer."
Her gaze flowed downward.
As if scanning along his body.
"Remove your clothes."
Yunseo's gaze momentarily lost its way.
"That is—"
The end of his words trailed off.
Only after catching his breath for a moment did he open his mouth again.
"That is impossible."
Wolhwa's hand stopped for an instant.
The fingertips holding the yellow hemp robe trembled very slightly.
"Why."
Her eyes turned to Yunseo again.
"Do you refuse despite knowing what the situation is?"
Yunseo slowly lowered his gaze.
"It is not proper for Your Majesty to dress me yourself."
He spoke calmly.
Wolhwa's eyes narrowed.
"Is now the time to worry about appearances?"
"That is not it."
Yunseo raised his head.
"I cannot allow Your Majesty to trouble yourself with such trivial matters."
His gaze turned to the yellow hemp robe.
"With my own hands, I can—"
Before he could finish speaking, Wolhwa approached.
And she began undoing his official robes as if it were nothing.
As her hands continued, the air rippled strangely.
"Were things ever so distant between us?"
Wolhwa's voice seeped in close by.
"To observe such ceremony to this extent… are you keeping me so far away?"
Yunseo stood still with his mouth closed.
Every time her hands touched him, his body stiffened awkwardly.
"I am not accustomed to such things."
He swallowed his words for a while before spitting them out with difficulty.
"I have never had someone help me dress."
At those words, a smile brushed Wolhwa's lips.
"Then."
Her breath-mingled voice flowed from right beside him.
"You may repay me all the more greatly."
Yunseo stood with his head bowed, simply silent.
Time passed with no one opening their mouth.
Yunseo suddenly broke the silence.
"Jang Munyeon tried to win me over."
Wolhwa's hands, which had been straightening his collar, stopped for a moment.
But soon moved again as if nothing had happened.
"He never gives up."
Wolhwa spat out in a hard voice.
"To think he would reach out even to my person."
"Your Majesty."
Yunseo called out quietly.
And leaned in closer.
"Please mind your words."
His gaze swept the surroundings.
"Even here, it cannot be considered safe."
Wolhwa immediately closed her mouth.
And slowly nodded.
She could not fail to know the meaning of those words.
After another silence passed.
This time, Wolhwa opened her mouth first.
"Yuun."
At the short utterance, Yunseo's gaze stopped for a moment.
"What… did you call me just now."
Wolhwa approached.
And casually took his hand.
"When it is just the two of us."
Wolhwa's voice lightly reached his ear.
"May I call you thus?"
Yunseo dropped his gaze as he was.
"If it is Your Majesty's wish… I shall comply."
After finishing speaking, he let his gaze drift to a distant place.
And let out a small cough.
"Your Majesty."
Yunseo's gaze hardened again.
"Do you intend to… continue watching the Chancellor's movements?"
Wolhwa looked at him.
"Indeed."
She echoed lowly.
"What would you have me do?"
A shadow briefly fell across her eyes.
"Can you bear that burden in my stead?"
Soon she smiled faintly as if nothing were wrong.
"If so, I would bestow an even higher position."
The moment Yunseo heard those words, he shook his head.
"There is no need. I do not wish for such things."
He spoke without a hint of wavering.
"If Your Majesty doubts me, you may take my head right here and now."
Wolhwa looked at him for a moment and laughed greatly.
"Excessive."
She shook her head.
"That is not what I meant."
Wolhwa caught her breath for a moment before opening her mouth again.
"The reason I came today is separate."
Her gaze turned to the yellow hemp robe.
"I came here today to bestow the yellow hemp robe."
The air grew heavy in an instant.
"Strike down the envoy in court tomorrow."
It was a resolute command.
"Restore discipline."
She continued without pause.
"This is also a ruse to draw out the colluder within the court."
Yunseo's gaze deepened.
"A colluder…"
Wolhwa nodded.
"There definitely is one. They will soon be revealed."
Without a moment's pause, her words continued.
"Even if we accept their demands and reduce the tribute, they will eventually join hands with Prince Jeongan."
Yunseo's gaze deepened.
"We are caught in a dilemma."
"That is why."
Wolhwa spoke.
"I need you."
Her gaze turned directly to Yunseo.
"Wield the blade in my stead."
Wolhwa stopped speaking and closed the distance.
"I shall see that you receive no punishment."
Her hand lightly grasped the yellow hemp robe.
Yunseo fell into thought for a moment.
Had she truly gone through such troublesome efforts solely to preserve him completely?
He looked at her and slowly nodded.
"I accept the command."