A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 400

400. Subjugating Demons in the Imperial Palace

Sun Bin and his group were guided to a separate palace within Lall Killa [Red Fort, a historical fort in Delhi, India], the heart of the Empire.

The maidservant mentioned it was an extraordinary place where only imperial relatives could stay, but Sun Bin’s group barely registered her words.

The shock of Empress Sarasvati’s statement still lingered in their minds.

“Is it really true?”

Lord Hwang muttered blankly. Noh Gun frowned.

“If it’s not true, then what? Why would the Empress lie?”

“Still, it can’t be, can it? Isn’t there some misunderstanding? Or perhaps she was just caught up in something, or maybe there are unavoidable circumstances…”

Thud.

“Ugh!”

Lord Hwang couldn’t finish his sentence. Noh Gun had struck him hard on the back, using enough internal energy to make it resonate.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

Lord Hwang looked tearful from the sudden shock. But Noh Gun spoke with a serious expression.

“Do you even know the Empress? Since when have you been taking her side?”

“No, but still…”

“Get a grip!”

Noh Gun shouted.

“Don’t fall into delusion! The Empress is a demon! If you don’t come to your senses, you’ll become a bug trapped in an antlion’s pit without even realizing it!” [An antlion digs a conical pit in sand, waits at the bottom, and preys on insects that fall in.]

Noh Gun’s voice, imbued with internal energy, resonated in everyone’s hearts.

“Seorin!”

Noh Gun turned to Seorin with a sharp gaze. Seorin flinched and shrank back.

“Think back. When we went to the Northern Sea, how did Yeon-ah appear to you?”

Seorin, who had expected to be scolded, tilted her head at the unexpected question.

“When she was trying to steal Bin oppa [term of endearment for older brother or male friend] away?”

That was how So Gongju [princess], Sa Soo-yeon, whom they met in the Northern Sea, appeared to Seorin.

“Yes. How did she seem back then?”

“Scary and annoying? Oh, but she was really pretty, though.”

Sa Soo-yeon’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment at the sudden topic. But Noh Gun and Seorin remained serious.

“Really strangely… Ah!”

Seorin clapped her hands together as if she finally understood.

“That’s it! Strangely pretty!”

“Yes, that’s exactly it.”

Noh Gun said with a grave expression.

“It’s the same as when Yeon-ah fell into demonic influence in the Northern Sea. The Empress is a demon. And one with terrifying abilities.”

Noh Gun gritted his teeth.

“Like fools, we just walked right into the Empress’s territory. Without any preparation.”

“But if that’s the case…”

Dang Wol-ah said quietly.

“Does that mean the Empress’s power is comparable to the Eternal Ice Crystal?”

Sa Soo-yeon had exuded an unusual charm in the Northern Sea because she resonated with the Eternal Ice Crystal. Did that mean the Empress’s power was on that level?

“Well? I don’t think so, but…”

Noh Gun, stroking his beard with a serious face, looked at Sun Bin.

“How did she seem to you?”

“More importantly, are you okay, hyung [term of endearment for older brother or male friend]?”

Seorin asked before Sun Bin could answer. Sun Bin gave a gentle smile.

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

“You don’t have to worry about Bin.”

Noh Gun said as even Sa Soo-yeon and Dang Wol-ah stared at Sun Bin.

“That guy was so worried about Yeon-ah in the Northern Sea that he didn’t even fall for her.”

“Ahem.”

Sun Bin cleared his throat. Sa Soo-yeon’s cheeks were also a little redder than before.

“All I saw from the Empress was a blue aura like the Water Demon.”

“That thing only you can see?”

Sun Bin nodded.

“Well, her internal energy itself was only at the level of a decent expert… So, is it because of that unknown aura after all?”

Noh Gun, who had instantly downgraded a ‘master’ to ‘decent,’ frowned.

“Anyway, the Empress is the enemy. Recognize that clearly. And control your minds with internal energy. Then you won’t end up retreating without saying a word like you did earlier.”

The group fell silent at Noh Gun’s words. They had really been swayed by the Empress earlier. Even staying in this luxurious accommodation was according to her will.

“I’ll protect you by subtly circulating my internal energy, so don’t worry.”

That was directed at Lord Hwang. Lord Hwang gave an awkward smile.

“Why? Don’t tell me you were thinking it’s okay to be charmed?”

Lord Hwang flinched at Noh Gun’s sharp gaze. The truth was that a similar thought had sprung up in his mind without him realizing it.

“It’s not exactly like that, but… I understand. If you tell me to, I have to, I guess.”

Lord Hwang sighed deeply and began muttering ‘The Empress is a demon, the Empress is a demon’ with a serious expression. He seemed to be trying to put Noh Gun’s words into practice in his own way, but Noh Gun frowned even more.

“If you keep thinking like that, you’ll get even more caught up in it. Instead, think about the money you like. Or calculate what you should buy here to make the most profit.”

Lord Hwang’s eyes began to sparkle at Noh Gun’s words. As expected, the instincts of a merchant didn’t go anywhere.

“But this is a very unfavorable situation, isn’t it?”

“Why?”

Noh Gun bit his lip at Seorin’s question.

“The Empress knows us, but we don’t know the Empress. Besides, this is the Empress’s territory.”

“Should we say we’re leaving the Imperial Palace, then?”

Noh Gun shook his head at Sa Soo-yeon’s words.

“She won’t allow it. The Empress will never let Bin go willingly. If necessary, we’ll have to break through with force…”

“No.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Sword Lady at that voice. Sword Lady, who had been silent until now, spoke for the first time.

“There is someone watching us.”

“What?”

Noh Gun’s expression changed drastically.

“Since when?”

“Since we entered the Red Fortress.”

Noh Gun gritted his teeth. If someone could deceive his senses, they couldn’t be taken lightly.

“Even now?”

“Perhaps.”

Sword Lady’s answer indicated that she couldn’t clearly sense them either.

“So, that’s why you’ve been with us all this time?”

Sword Lady silently nodded at Sa Soo-yeon’s question.

“Tsk.”

Noh Gun clicked his tongue.

“Is it fortunate that we were able to bring our swords?”

The group was able to bring their swords with them when they entered the Red Fortress.

Of course, that was impossible within the Imperial Palace. However, it was allowed in the Red Fortress surrounding the Imperial Palace. That was because swords were a symbol of status here, and even related to religious discipline.

It was something unimaginable in the Imperial Palace of Beijing, but it meant that the Empire valued martial artists and power that much.

“Bin-ah.”

Noh Gun said to Sun Bin with a serious expression.

“It seems this is entirely up to you.”

Sun Bin nodded. As Noh Gun said, Empress Sarasvati’s interest was only in Sun Bin.

“But when the time comes for you to decide something, remember these words.”

Sun Bin waited for his words with a serious expression. Noh Gun stared straight at Sun Bin and said.

“Do whatever you want.”

“Pardon?”

Sun Bin’s expression went blank for a moment. But Noh Gun’s serious gaze didn’t change.

“We’ll take care of ourselves. So, don’t think about anything else and only do what you want, what your heart tells you to do. Do you understand what I mean?”

Sun Bin could tell that his words weren’t just meant to relieve pressure.

You can’t face the Empress, no, the demon Sarasvati, with a distracted mind. That was what Noh Gun was pointing out.

“Yes.”

Sun Bin nodded.

“I understand.”

Seorin, Sa Soo-yeon, and Dang Wol-ah also shone their eyes toward Sun Bin. Amidst the still expressionless Sword Lady and the restless Lord Hwang, Noh Gun smiled faintly.

***

Swish.

As Sa Soo-yeon entered the Imperial Audience Hall, quiet exclamations flowed from all directions.

Sa Soo-yeon, with her splendid attire and a veil covering below her eyes, went before the Empire’s ‘Shah’ [Persian title for king or emperor] in a flawless manner.

With each step she took, the gold and silver leaf on her clothes rippled like waves, and her beauty, slightly bowed, shone through the half-visible veil.

“What remarkable beauty.”

“They even say she’s the incarnation of an Apsaras [celestial nymph in Hinduism and Buddhism]?”

Sun Bin, following behind Sa Soo-yeon, could clearly hear the whispering of the high-ranking officials sitting on the left and right sides of the audience hall.

The rumors of the ‘Rani’ [Hindi term for queen] from the Northern Sea, compared to the goddess of beauty ‘Apsaras,’ had already spread to this imperial capital.

“Truly, she is a ‘Rani’ who inherited the imperial bloodline.”

Sa Soo-yeon’s beauty might not be due to the imperial bloodline, but in any case, admiration for Sa Soo-yeon, the So Gongju [princess] of the Northern Sea, was spreading like a wave in the audience hall.

Swish.

Standing before the elderly ‘Shah’ with a white beard, Sa Soo-yeon bowed respectfully.

“The ‘Rani’ of the Northern Sea pays respects to the great ‘Shah’ of the Empire.”

It wasn’t Sa Soo-yeon who spoke, but the Empire’s interpreter. He offered a long and elaborate greeting befitting the Empire’s ‘Shah,’ using a lot of flamboyant and complex rhetoric to the ‘Shah’.

The elderly ‘Shah’ smiled warmly, seemingly satisfied.

“We welcome the blood relative from the distant Northern Sea.”

The Empire’s interpreter spoke to Sa Soo-yeon in the language of the Central Plains, adding all sorts of grandiose rhetoric. Sa Soo-yeon bowed her head in gratitude, and the Empire’s interpreter once again offered a grandiose and lengthy greeting to the ‘Shah’. Then, he began to continue with something complex.

“What is he saying?”

Sun Bin asked Lord Hwang, who was standing next to him, in a small voice.

The only people who had entered the audience hall with Sa Soo-yeon were Sun Bin, Lord Hwang, and Seorin. Dang Wol-ah and Sword Lady couldn’t enter because they were women, and Noh Gun said he felt suffocated in places like the audience hall and stayed in the separate palace.

Lord Hwang listened to the interpreter’s words and explained in a small voice. He had to speak a little louder because of the noisy voices of the high-ranking officials.

“It’s diplomatic rhetoric. Saying that the Empire ruled by the Emperor is great and its power is unparalleled, something like that. Of course, he’ll also talk about Lahore as planned.”

The words to be presented to the Emperor had already been conveyed. The interpreter openly demanded a bribe, but Lord Hwang gave him several times what he asked for, making the interpreter’s mouth split open.

“Gifts, interpreters, it cost some money, but since the Lord of Lahore gave it anyway, why save it? After all, we came here to deliver his message.”

Even though he said that, Lord Hwang still seemed regretful, and even said things he wasn’t asked about.

The wealthy Lord of Lahore spared no support for the Northern Sea ‘Rani’ group. The gifts presented to the ‘Shah’ now were also prepared by the Lord of Lahore.

Meanwhile, the elderly ‘Shah,’ who had been listening happily to the interpreter’s eloquent words, frowned slightly.

“Lahore?”

What the interpreter said was the story of Lahore witnessing the Empire’s enemies being defeated.

It was a ceremonial statement that the ‘Shah’s’ dignity, with his loyal subjects, was very great, but the elderly ‘Shah’ didn’t miss the true meaning contained in those words.

“Hmm.”

The Empire’s ‘Shah’ was lost in thought. And after a while, the ‘Shah’ raised his head and looked at the subjects on the left and right sides of the audience hall.

“What do you all think?”

The subjects were silent. But the silence didn’t last long.

“We must not accept it.”

The person who spoke was a middle-aged high-ranking official with a sharp impression. He began to denounce the disloyalty committed by ‘Lahore’ in a rather agitated tone.

The ‘Shah’ rested his chin on his hand and listened to his words. But soon, another high-ranking official spoke about Lahore’s realistic power and past dedication, arguing that this should be accepted as a sign of submission.

Soon, the audience hall turned into a debate hall for the Empire’s high-ranking officials. The ‘Shah’ simply rested his chin on his hand and listened to the words of the high-ranking officials, who were continuing the debate by refuting or supporting each other’s logic.

“It’s similar to Xizang [Tibet] here.”

Sun Bin said quietly to Lord Hwang. Lord Hwang nodded and said. He had to speak a little louder because of the noisy voices of the high-ranking officials.

“It’s a tradition passed down from the great old ‘Shah’. It’s said that even fairly radical remarks are allowed. Well, the Emperor will make the decision anyway.”

Even if it was formal, it was quite an impressive sight for Sun Bin. It was at that moment, as the debate was heating up.

A small attendant entered the audience hall, approached the ‘Shah,’ knelt down, and whispered something. The ‘Shah’ smiled brightly and nodded.

At the same time as the attendant bowed deeply again and retreated, someone slowly entered the audience hall.

She was the Empress with the name of a goddess, Sarasvati.

“Oh, Empress.”

The elderly ‘Shah’ rose from his seat. The high-ranking officials, who had already stopped the debate, also rose from their seats all at once. It was natural since the Emperor had risen, but they were already standing up the moment they discovered the Empress.

Swish, swish.

The young Empress, Sarasvati, walked into the audience hall with a beautiful and noble appearance.

Unlike when she met Sun Bin’s group, she was covering below her eyes with a sparkling veil, but her magical beauty was shining even more.

The name of the goddess Sarasvati, even though it was a common name in Tianzhu [ancient name for the Indian subcontinent], was the most fitting moment.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

The elderly high-ranking officials, as well as the middle-aged and young high-ranking officials, greeted her respectfully, not hiding their happy expressions.

The fact that the ‘Empress’ was entering this place to discuss state affairs was originally close to taboo, but no one pointed it out. The fact that the Empress was wearing Tianzhu religious attire, although there were already historical precedents, of course, didn’t bother anyone either.

The elderly ‘Shah’ went directly forward to greet the Empress. And he took her hand and sat her next to him.

Empress Sarasvati confidently took a seat in the center of the audience hall, next to the ‘Shah’. The elderly ‘Shah’, who couldn’t take his eyes off the Empress with a rather pleased expression, waved his hand at the high-ranking officials and ordered them to continue the debate.

“Ahem.”

The high-ranking officials, whose minds had been blank for a moment, cleared their throats and resumed the debate.

But the atmosphere of the debate was quite different. They were looking at the ‘Empress’ rather than each other, trying to convey their arguments to her.

It was a sight that clearly showed who the owner of this place was.

Sun Bin, who noticed the change in the debate atmosphere, admired inwardly. Then, he suddenly realized that Lord Hwang next to him was frowning deeply and muttering something.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m calculating. I’m wondering how much all the jewels that Empress is wearing are worth…”

Perhaps that was Lord Hwang’s own strategy. Sun Bin smiled bitterly and looked at the Empress.

Empress Sarasvati was smiling lightly under her veil and talking about something with the ‘Shah’. As she didn’t show any interest, the debate of the high-ranking officials, who were watching her, naturally lost its heat.

“Hahaha.”

The ‘Shah’ suddenly let out a hearty laugh. He nodded and said to Empress Sarasvati.

“I see. Let’s do that.”

The ‘Shah’ raised his head. And he smiled at the high-ranking officials looking at him and said.

“Since Lahore has claimed to be a loyal subject, it’s worth listening to their words. You all should strictly rebuke Lahore’s past disloyalty, and at the same time, prepare a plan to give them a final chance.”

No one didn’t know who the ‘Shah’s’ decision was due to. But none of the high-ranking officials protested. No, they couldn’t even raise an objection.

“We will uphold the will of the great ‘Shah’.”

The high-ranking officials all bowed to the ‘Shah’. Looking at that sight, Lord Hwang clicked his tongue.

“It’s truly a beauty that shakes the Empire.”

“No, it’s not.”

Sun Bin said quietly.

“In politics, using beauty is a low-level tactic. In the first place, beauty to the Empire’s high-ranking officials, it can’t work.”

The ‘Shah’s’ high-ranking officials are diverse. Elderly and middle-aged, strong and clever, greedy and loyal. All of them are powerful people in positions to move the Empire.

Even if the Empress’s beauty is unparalleled, no one among them would move by that alone.

“This is proof that she has power.”

Empress Sarasvati was looking down at the high-ranking officials with a gentle smile. But her haughty eyes were clearly saying who was dominating this place.

“The power to make even the Empire’s high-ranking officials bow their heads.”

Politics is a world dominated by power. They never bow their heads with just beauty. Therefore, this appearance clearly shows that what Empress Sarasvati has is not just beauty.

Only then did Lord Hwang realize that not all the high-ranking officials were bowing their heads with emotion. Although it was a minority, there were those among the high-ranking officials who were frowning, and even those who were gritting their teeth with hostility.

But none of them can say anything against it.

The power to make them bow their heads, no matter what different thoughts they have. That is power.

“Then let’s do that about Lahore.”

The elderly ‘Shah’, nodding with a satisfied expression, looked at the interpreter standing next to the ‘Rani’ of the Northern Sea, Sa Soo-yeon.

“The Empire welcomes you. In my name, I declare you a distinguished guest of the Empire, and you will be respected anywhere in my Empire.”

Sa Soo-yeon bowed respectfully. The ‘Shah’ rose from his seat. And he walked out of the audience hall affectionately with Empress Sarasvati.

Step, step.

Empress Sarasvati, passing by Sun Bin amidst everyone’s attention, gave Sun Bin a provocative smile and winked for a moment.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the ‘Shah’ didn’t see it and left the audience hall. But it was impossible to deceive the eyes of the other high-ranking officials who were watching the Empress’s every move.

Swish, swish.

The gazes of all the high-ranking officials filling the audience hall turn to Sun Bin. Those were eyes full of confusion and doubt, exploration and vigilance, and clear hostility.

‘This is bad.’

Amidst the sharp gazes of the Empire’s high-ranking officials, Sun Bin could only give an awkward smile.

(Author’s words)

An empire’s public enemy with a single wink.