“Your Majesty, spare me!”
The envoy’s legs gave out beneath him.
Unable to hold himself up, he collapsed to the floor as if crumpling into a heap.
The bravado he had shown only moments ago was nowhere to be found.
His eyes were filled with nothing but terror.
‘If this continues, I’m dead.’
His instincts screamed warnings at him.
“Were you not acting as though no one existed above you just moments ago?”
Wolhwa looked down at him and curled the corner of her mouth in a sneer.
“Where did that spirit go?”
Her gaze burrowed into him as if choking off his breath.
“Why not carry it through to the end?”
The envoy’s body trembled violently.
In the end, he struck his own cheek.
Smack—
“Your Majesty! This lowly one has committed a crime worthy of death! I am nothing more than a worthless slave who moves as my lord commands! Please… please spare me just this once!”
He slammed his head down until his forehead struck the floor.
“Pretend you have not even stepped on a single insect… just spare my life!”
The entire court watched, holding its breath.
However—
“That will never happen.”
Wolhwa’s answer was brief and resolute.
There was not the slightest room for mercy.
“The words that leave my mouth carry the weight of a thousand gold.”
Her eyes slowly grew cold.
“Did I not say a moment ago that I would raise you to a very high place?”
Wolhwa’s lips parted slowly.
“As promised, I shall raise you to that place.”
She lifted her hand.
“Drag him away.”
At that instant, the State Duke shot to his feet.
But.
“Stop.”
Jang Munyeon’s low voice fell first.
The State Duke’s movement halted.
“The words of the Son of Heaven are no jest.”
Jang Munyeon tilted his head.
“How dare you attempt to block the punishment His Majesty has decreed… Surely you do not now look down even on His Majesty’s command?”
His gaze briefly brushed past the State Duke.
It was only for an instant, but there was a clear intent within it.
At that moment.
The State Duke’s eyes narrowed.
He had read the signal.
One that only passed between the two of them.
The State Duke immediately composed his expression.
“…The Chancellor is correct.”
Then he slowly lowered his head.
“How could I dare defy His Majesty’s will?”
At that sight, Wolhwa’s eyes quietly sharpened.
Strange.
He had backed down far too easily.
Those two.
Like this?
Her gaze brushed toward Yunseo.
Yunseo had sensed the same thing.
This was strange.
Far too obedient.
They were definitely hiding something.
Meanwhile—
The envoy was already being dragged out.
A scream burst forth.
Soon.
It was cut off completely.
A short while later.
A corpse, not yet drained of its pallor, was carried in.
“Your Majesty.”
The State Duke spoke dryly.
“How do you intend to settle this matter?”
Wolhwa tilted her head.
“Settle?”
She laughed coldly.
“Why should I?”
Her gaze turned to the corpse lying on the floor.
“I merely raised him to a very high place.”
Wolhwa added calmly.
“Tell them he died because he could not contain his excitement.”
At that moment.
The faces of several ministers hardened.
“And whose fault would that be?”
Her gaze shot upward, fierce and savage.
“I clearly gave him a chance.”
No one could refute her.
Just then—
“Chancellor.”
Yunseo spoke first.
“Let us go together.”
The corner of Jang Munyeon’s mouth rose slightly.
“…Very well.”
He nodded.
“If I am with Lord Yuk, my mind will be at ease.”
The two of them left the court side by side.
As soon as they stepped out the door, Jang Munyeon stopped.
Then he brought his hands together and offered a light salute.
“Today… I have benefited from your favor.”
Yunseo’s eyes wavered as if he found the words absurd.
“What do you mean?”
“There is no need to pretend you do not know.”
Jang Munyeon smiled.
“Did you not remove me from that place?”
A satisfied look settled in his eyes.
“The reason you deliberately asked me to move with you… is obvious.”
Yunseo’s expression did not change.
“You are reading too much into it.”
“Am I?”
Jang Munyeon took a step closer.
“Then let me ask one thing.”
His gaze deepened.
“At this point… should you not be changing your mind?”
Yunseo kept silent.
As if there was no need to open his mouth.
“I am saying we should join hands.”
Yunseo stopped walking and turned his head.
“Give it up. I have already told you.”
His gaze dug in like a blade.
“I am His Majesty’s subject.”
The air instantly sank.
Jang Munyeon’s eyes trembled faintly.
He could not understand it.
Even in this situation—
He would not choose?
No.
Had he already made his choice?
The corner of his mouth slowly twisted.
“…Truly.”
His expression distorted strangely.
“You are a difficult man to handle.”
Instead of answering, Yunseo turned his back and began walking first.
“Then.”
Jang Munyeon narrowed his eyes.
“In the matter with the envoy… why did you help me—”
“If the Chancellor dies.”
Yunseo cut him off calmly.
“The State Duke will run rampant alone.”
It was a blunt statement without the slightest filter.
“That would not be good for His Majesty either.”
Yunseo’s words were sincere.
But that was not the only reason.
Jang Munyeon was an old fox, and a man whose pride pierced the heavens.
For such a person, a debt of life was not something he could ignore.
His dignity would not allow it.
In the end, he would inevitably try to repay it.
Jang Munyeon’s gaze hardened with displeasure.
“…Hah.”
A short, hollow laugh escaped him.
“Pretending to be needlessly kind.”
He let out a long sigh and twisted the corner of his mouth upward.
“So.”
Jang Munyeon’s gaze fixed directly on Yunseo.
“What is the price?”
It was a direct question.
Yunseo did not answer.
He simply stared at him.
Then—
“One month.”
The words fell, short and firm.
“Deal with the State Duke.”
The air froze as if even their breathing had stopped.
“You only need to give His Majesty time to catch her breath in the meantime.”
The moment those words fell, Jang Munyeon’s expression stiffened.
This was not a choice.
It was a trap.
The moment he accepted, he would be completely split from the State Duke.
But if he refused, it was obvious Yunseo would bring up today’s events and brand him an ungrateful man.
‘This bastard…’
Curses boiled up inside him.
He had been thoroughly caught.
Jang Munyeon clenched his teeth.
“…Fine.”
He spoke as if forcing the words out.
“One month.”
Then he lifted his gaze.
“But remember this.”
His eyes flashed sharply.
“After that, I will cut you down without fail. Yuk Yunseo.”
Yunseo smiled faintly.
As if he had not been struck at all—indeed, as if he did not even find it interesting.
“We shall see when the time comes.”
There was not the slightest tremor in him.
“If you wish to kill me… you will have to display far more impressive skill than you have now.”
A short while later.
The two moved together.
Toward the western camp, carrying the envoy’s corpse.
At first, they did not believe the envoy was dead, but the result before their eyes proved that it was reality.
Rage surged within them, but if they resisted now, it was obvious they would die like dogs.
In the end.
“We will report to our country and return.”
Leaving behind that excuse, they took charge of the corpse and withdrew.
It was, in effect, cutting off their own tail and fleeing.
Yunseo watched them until the end, then opened his mouth.
“Chancellor, now is the time.”
Jang Munyeon turned his head.
“What do you mean?”
“Send troops immediately and pursue them.”
Yunseo’s gaze grew heavy in an instant.
“If you surround them now, you can end this.”
At that moment, Jang Munyeon’s brow twitched.
“…Now?”
He asked back as if he could not believe it.
“You want me to move without justification? That would only hand them a pretext for war.”
“Who said anything about striking first?”
Yunseo shook his head as if frustrated, then spoke again.
“Just follow them.”
Then he looked at Jang Munyeon.
His gaze seemed to ask whether further explanation was truly necessary.
“You only need to make it so that they have no choice but to draw their blades first. They will provide the justification for self-defense themselves.”
At that instant, a chill ran down Jang Munyeon’s spine.
Only now did he understand.
This was.
Inducement.
They would deliberately drive them into a corner and make them draw their blades first.
Then the justification would complete itself.
Laughter burst out.
“Really.”
He glared at Yunseo.
“You are disgustingly clever.”
Yunseo did not seem to take it as praise and gave no answer.
Instead—
“This merit.”
He quietly cast out the bait.
“Will you take it, Chancellor?”
At that one sentence, the corner of Jang Munyeon’s mouth rose.
“I have no reason to refuse.”
He answered immediately.
“I shall take action myself.”
His eyes already held the conviction of a man who had grasped everything in his hands.
Yunseo did not stop him.
He merely raised a hand and lightly opened the way.
“Then I will leave it to you.”
And then—
He turned around.
“I will go ahead.”
Jang Munyeon flinched.
“…You.”
He stopped where he stood and deeply furrowed his brow.
“You are not staying?”
Without stopping, Yunseo answered with a smile, not even looking back.
“I am an Inspector Censor, not a general.”
He gave a small shrug.
“If I covet even matters of the battlefield… that would be overstepping my place.”
As Jang Munyeon watched Yunseo’s back as he went off as he pleased, his face slowly twisted.
“That insolent brat…”
He muttered a curse under his breath.
“He has not a shred of affection in him.”
Then he ground his teeth.
“One day, I will break him without fail.”