Just as the Empress was gauging the situation that was about to unfold.
The sound of hooves rang harshly from outside.
A moment later.
A general rushed in and dropped to one knee.
“Your Majesty!”
His breathing came ragged and uneven.
“An urgent report from the north. It is said that King Jeongan has nearly completed his preparations to start a war.”
In that instant—
The air around them grew heavy, as though it had sunk.
“And.”
The general continued.
“The Chancellor….”
He carefully gauged their expressions.
“Requests that Your Majesty return to the palace at once with the Royal Inspector to discuss countermeasures.”
Yunseo’s brow narrowed.
‘Me too?’
Since when had that cunning old man been so considerate of him?
There was no way he had called him for no reason.
He undoubtedly had some other scheme in mind.
Then.
“…Let us go.”
Wolhwa spoke as if it were nothing.
Her expression was calm, but her eyes wavered for an instant.
“There must be a reason the Chancellor went so far as to summon you as well.”
She turned her head and fixed her gaze directly on Yunseo.
“In any case, this matter will have to pass through your hands.”
Yunseo nodded without a word.
Wolhwa took a few steps, then stopped and looked back.
“I will leave this place to the young general.”
A gleam settled in her eyes.
“I shall obey your command.”
Yunseol lowered her head.
—
The moment they opened the doors of the court and entered, every gaze poured toward them at once.
The atmosphere was already far from ordinary.
At its center stood Jang Munyeon and the Duke of State.
Both of their complexions were dark to an almost unnatural degree.
“Your Majesty.”
The Duke of State spoke before Wolhwa had even taken her seat.
“King Jeongan is making his move.”
His voice fell low and heavy.
“He will start a war before long.”
Wolhwa smiled coldly at him.
“And so.”
Her voice, too, chilled.
“What do you propose we do?”
The Duke of State chose his words for a moment before opening his mouth.
“Your Majesty. This crisis can be prevented through compromise.”
Wolhwa’s eyes narrowed.
“…Compromise?”
The Duke of State bowed his head.
“King Jeongan merely seeks to establish his own position. If you bestow upon him the title of a feudatory king and acknowledge his status—”
His gaze carefully lifted.
“Would that not break his momentum and make him withdraw?”
At that instant—
Bang—!!
Wolhwa’s hand slammed down on the table.
“Impudent!”
Her eyes flashed.
“Are you telling Us to kneel before a traitor?”
The air in the court froze.
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger! This humble subject does not think this plan is right either!”
The Duke of State hurriedly prostrated himself on the floor.
“However, the national treasury cannot endure it.”
Wolhwa’s gaze wavered.
She knew it as well.
Silver.
It was this nation’s greatest weakness at present.
But—
“And yet.”
Her voice sank low, becoming weighty.
“You would have Us acknowledge a traitor?”
Wolhwa stepped forward and stopped before the Duke of State.
“Do you think so lightly of Us?”
Her gaze bore down on him.
“Never, Your Majesty!”
“Then.”
All warmth vanished from Wolhwa’s eyes.
“Why did you utter such words?”
Every sound disappeared.
A silence so dense it was difficult even to swallow one’s breath spread through the hall.
Then—
“Your Majesty.”
Jang Munyeon hurriedly stepped forward.
“The Duke of State’s words… are not entirely without reason.”
Wolhwa’s gaze snapped toward him sharply.
“Chancellor. Are you of the same mind?”
Jang Munyeon bowed his head.
“It is merely a strategy for Your Majesty’s sake.”
“Do not make me laugh.”
The corner of Wolhwa’s mouth twisted.
“All of you.”
She cast her gaze over the entire court.
“Under the pretext of acting for Our sake, you are tearing down Our authority.”
No one dared refute her, and only silence continued.
“Yuk Yunseo.”
Wolhwa’s gaze went straight to Yunseo.
“Speak.”
Tension once again wound through the entire court.
“Must We bow Our head to that traitor?”
Every gaze fixed on Yunseo.
Yunseo stepped forward.
And after briefly steadying his breath—
“You must not.”
He spoke calmly.
The entire court stirred.
“The reason is simple.”
His gaze slowly lifted.
“King Jeongan will never abandon his ambition in the end.”
His voice carried firmness.
“If you yield to King Jeongan even once—”
Yunseo deliberately cut himself off, leaving a brief silence before speaking again.
“The court will suffer endless future calamities.”
No sooner had the words fallen than Jang Munyeon could not hold himself back and stepped forward.
“Yuk Yunseo!”
His voice burst out harshly.
“I know that you and I often differ in opinion, but now is not the time to shake the great affairs of the court with private feelings!”
“Does the Chancellor think I am standing here merely to engage in a battle of wills?”
Yunseo glared straight at the Chancellor.
“I am not so idle that I would have an emotional quarrel with you, Chancellor.”
He lightly shook his head.
“When have I ever acted on emotion?”
Frustration showed in Yunseo’s voice.
“This is a matter of the court. How could it be judged by emotion?”
He slowly looked around the court.
“I ask you.”
His gaze pressed down on each of them in turn.
“If we bow our heads to King Jeongan—”
Yunseo took one breath and struck straight at the heart of the matter without hesitation.
“Where will Her Majesty stand?”
In an instant, an invisible chill wrapped around the space.
Jang Munyeon and the Duke of State’s faces stiffened at the same time.
This—
Was no different from pointing out directly that they had not considered the Empress at all.
Even if it was true, their shameful inner thoughts had been exposed before the whole world.
“Your Majesty!”
The Duke of State immediately stepped forward.
“This is an insult to us! He must be punished severely!”
“Enough.”
Wolhwa raised her hand.
With that single small movement, every gaze focused on her at once.
“Yunseo has said nothing wrong.”
Her eyes slowly sharpened.
“You two ministers claim, as if by habit, that you act for Our sake. Then why is it that Our eyes cannot see that sincerity?”
Her gaze fell mercilessly upon the Duke of State and the Chancellor.
“Answer.”
The court fell quiet.
“Do you think Us blind?”
No one could even think of opening their mouth.
Then.
“Your Majesty.”
Jang Munyeon, gauging the mood, hurriedly added.
“It is not that we do not understand the circumstances.”
With his eyes lowered, he looked only at the floor.
“However, now is… by no means a time to act on emotion.”
“Emotion?”
At that moment—
Yunseo cut in.
“War is not waged for emotion.”
His eyes were blazing.
“It is waged for victory.”
His voice carried certainty.
“If it were a war we could not win, I would not have brought it up in the first place.”
The current in the court subtly tilted toward Yunseo.
“The reason the ministers oppose it is merely because they fear the matter will grow larger and become troublesome.”
Yunseo took one step forward.
“There is only one problem. How we will win.”
The Duke of State asked through gritted teeth.
“Then what is your idea? The forces under King Jeongan are by no means few. If they come charging in with their lives on the line, by what means do you intend to win?”
A distinct smile spread across Yunseo’s lips.
“It is said that if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear a hundred battles.”
His eyes held unwavering confidence.
“Can a cruel and unbenevolent man gain loyalty to the very end?”
Everyone held their breath at once and watched Yunseo.
“I will use a stratagem of sowing discord.”
At that single sentence, the ministers’ eyes all flashed wide at once.
“If we cast in just a small spark, they will begin tearing at one another.”
Jang Munyeon narrowed his eyes, showing interest.
“A stratagem of discord… That is quite an intriguing idea. Continue. If it has reason, I will no longer oppose you.”
The Duke of State’s face turned blue as he shouted.
“Chancellor! How can you say such a thing? If you support that man’s words and something happens…!”
Jang Munyeon waved his hand, cutting off the Duke of State.
Seeing the Duke of State’s stunned face, Yunseo held back a laugh inwardly.
“He who wins the hearts of the people wins the realm.”
His voice grew clearer and clearer.
“Spread an imperial edict in Her Majesty’s name to placate the northern forces. Bestow grace so that those who love the nation will return one after another.”
The Duke of State immediately seized on it.
“And what will you do if King Jeongan kills them all? Then your scheme will only become poison!”
Yunseo’s eyes curved gently.
“Then it becomes even easier.”
His voice was relaxed, without the slightest impatience.
“The moment that man slaughters even those who think of the nation, it is over.”
The court froze for an instant.
“How can one who cuts down the people lead an army?”
Yunseo’s gaze sank deep into each minister as though marking them one by one.
“A man without virtue will ultimately collapse.”
He did not waver in the slightest.
“So you need not worry about him leading a great army to invade.”