A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 401

401. The Fall of the Empire

The detached palace within the Red Fortress, where Sohn Bin and his party were staying, was suddenly inundated with gifts and invitations.

“What is all this?”

No Gun frowned. The sheer volume of gifts hadn’t even been sorted and were piled up at the entrance of the detached palace, making it difficult to pass through.

“These all come from high-ranking officials from every department of the Empire.”

Hwang Bang-ju, who was inspecting the gifts one by one, grinned widely as he spoke.

“There are even some from the princes. Oh, my, even the Seventh Prince sent one. It’s quite a polite invitation, considering he’s the one who threw us in jail, isn’t it?”

Of course, it wasn’t the Seventh Prince directly. It was General Bahadur and the old man ‘Sheikh’ he sent on his behalf. But Hwang Bang-ju, who knew from Seorin that they were backed by the Seventh Prince, was unlikely to say anything positive.

“Send them back. Or throw them away.”

“Why would we throw them away?”

Hwang Bang-ju protested as if the idea was absurd.

“We should be squeezing them for all they’re worth. Isn’t that how we get revenge?”

“Do you think that’s how you get revenge? It’s best not to associate with those kinds of guys in the first place. Just send them back as I said. And decline whatever invitation it is.”

At No Gun’s firm words, Hwang Bang-ju’s enthusiasm waned. He didn’t dare defy No Gun’s orders.

“Well, I was planning to refuse all the invitations anyway…”

“But why all of a sudden? The Empire and Bukhae originally had nothing to do with each other, did they?”

The Empire and Bukhae had only a symbolic connection through distant blood ties, with no political or diplomatic relations whatsoever. Therefore, no one should have been interested in Bukhae’s ‘Rani’ [Queen] in the first place.

“That’s because of the Empress.”

At Hwang Bang-ju’s words, No Gun’s eyebrows twitched.

“Why? What did the Empress do now?”

“She openly showed favor to Sohn Gong-ja [Master Sohn] in the audience chamber.”

That provocative wink was more than just a simple gesture of goodwill. The high-ranking officials and even the princes, who recognized the underlying meaning, were now sending gifts to gauge the relationship between the ‘Bukhae party’ and the ‘Empress’.

“What exactly did she do?”

“Well, she gave him a rather suggestive wink…”

Hwang Bang-ju’s words were abruptly cut short.

“What’s going on here?”

A soft woman’s voice echoed through the detached palace. Everyone stopped moving and turned their heads.

The Empress, Sarasvati, stood at the entrance of the detached palace with a dozen or so maids following behind her. Dressed in a blue-toned outfit with considerable exposure, she exuded a different charm than before. A maid of the detached palace quickly knelt down and replied.

“High-ranking officials and princes of the Imperial family have sent invitations and gifts.”

“Invitations and gifts…”

The Empress sighed lightly. Then she raised her head and looked at Sohn Bin.

“I’m sorry.

I’ve caused trouble for ‘Raja’ [King/Prince].”

At her words, the maids’ faces hardened. Although Sohn Bin and his party were unaware, the maids understood the weight of the apology the Empress was making.

“Foolish people, sending such trivial things and telling ‘Raja’ to come and go…”

They were things that were too precious to be dismissed as ‘trivial’, but the Empress murmured softly with sad eyes. The moment her beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly, the world seemed to mourn with her.

“I am truly sorry.”

Her affectionate eyes as she looked at Sohn Bin were mesmerizing. However, Sohn Bin replied with a calm expression.

“It’s alright. It’s not that big of a deal.”

Empress Sarasvati smiled softly. But that was only for Sohn Bin.

“Send them all back.”

The Empress said to the maids in a small but firm voice.

“To dare send such things to ‘Raja’. Make sure to tell them that I am greatly disappointed.”

The maids immediately bowed their heads and obeyed the order. They began to remove the piled-up gifts from the detached palace. Hwang Bang-ju’s face immediately turned gloomy, but he was able to concentrate solely on calculating the losses.

“May I come in?”

The Empress suddenly asked Sohn Bin. Come to think of it, the Empress hadn’t yet entered the detached palace. It wasn’t something the mistress of the Imperial family, and moreover, the person who had ordered the gifts returned, should ask, but Sohn Bin nodded.

“Of course. Your Majesty.”

“Won’t you call me Saras?”

That voice, with a hint of longing, was so charming that it made even Hwang Bang-ju’s heart, who was diligently calculating next to him, skip a beat. Hwang Bang-ju recalled the gifts that had come into his hands and then left, and began to count the potential value again.

Sarak, sarak [sound of footsteps].

Empress Sarasvati entered the detached palace with a light step. Her every gesture was full of the elegance befitting the most esteemed woman in the Empire. Sohn Bin and his party headed to the reception room of the detached palace with Empress Sarasvati. This reception room, uniquely large and circular, occupied most of the space. Moreover, it was furnished with chairs and small tables, rather than requiring guests to sit on the floor in the Cheonchuk [Indian] style.

“Tea.”

At Empress Sarasvati’s command, a maid immediately brought out the prepared tea. Even Sohn Bin, who didn’t know much about tea, could tell it was of high quality. No Gun’s eyebrows twitched as if he hadn’t expected it.

“Unfortunately, there is no custom of drinking tea here yet. But it’s not difficult to acquire good tea.”

The Empress, savoring the aroma rising from the teacup, smiled.

“The world is vast, and the Empire is very wealthy.”

Sohn Bin gave a wry smile, and Hwang Bang-ju clicked his tongue inwardly. He couldn’t even begin to estimate the value of the cup of tea he was holding.

“What brings Your Majesty here?”

Sa Su-yeon asked. The Empress Sarasvati smiled at her voice, which was tinged with wariness.

“Why, of course, to see my ‘Raja’.”

She said in an even softer and gentler voice.

“I would never do anything to harm ‘Raja’. So there’s no need to be so on edge, young lady from Bukhae.”

Empress Sarasvati turned her head towards Dang Wol-ah.

“And the cute young lady from the Dang family too.”

Her gentle voice and expression were enough to put anyone at ease. However, Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah, who were already on guard, were not swayed by the Empress’s intentions. The Empress lightly laughed off their sharp gazes and raised her teacup.

“The Imperial family is preparing to negotiate with Lahore.”

The Empress revealed quietly. The matter of Lahore that had occurred yesterday naturally drew everyone’s attention.

“The Empire’s procedures are cumbersome and take a long time. So this conversation will buy Lahore at least three years. But the outcome won’t change anyway.”

“Outcome?”

No Gun interjected. Sohn Bin’s subsequent words answered that question.

“Are you saying that Lahore will revolt against the Empire?”

Lahore is the land of the Reformist sect. The oppression and insults inflicted on them, who had been loyal to the Empire for generations, were severe, but the Imperial family was oblivious. In the end, the conversation between the Imperial family and Lahore will fail. If that happens, Lahore’s only option is to rebel against the Empire and declare independence. That was Sohn Bin’s prediction.

“That’s right. They will establish the Northwest Kingdom and stand against the Empire, just like the Southern Alliance is doing.”

The Southern Alliance’s rebellion is currently the Empire’s biggest concern. If Lahore, which occupies the Northwest Plains, becomes independent as the Empress said, the Empire will face military threats from both the north and south.

“Hmph, what does it matter to us what happens to the Empire?”

No Gun said bluntly. But the Empress smiled.

“Oh, it does matter, doesn’t it?”

The Empress Sarasvati, who answered in a clear voice, continued.

“Because I had to delay my plan because of it.”

“Plan?”

At Sohn Bin’s question, the Empress replied.

“Yes.”

The Empress quietly fiddled with her teacup and said.

“The problem in the Northwest Lahore region, and the Southern Alliance, are all my doing. It’s all to bring down this Empire.”

“What?”

No Gun frowned. Sohn Bin also looked at the Empress with a questioning look.

“Bring down the Empire? Even if you are the Empress, how can you bring down this great Empire?”

“I can do it.”

The Empress answered without hesitation.

“No, I already did it.”

The Empress, looking back at No Gun, who was distorting his face, continued.

“The Empire’s problem stems from the previous ‘Shah’s’ [King’s] expansionist policy centered on Islam. And it’s my fault that the previous ‘Shah’ became a devout Muslim.”

“You? How?”

“It’s simple.”

The Empress smiled.

“I asked the previous ‘Shah’ questions, and he answered. He began to define his identity. People redefine themselves only when they face others.”

Sohn Bin bit his lip. It was obvious where the emperor, a descendant of conquering monarchs and a Muslim, would find his identity without even looking.

“What he chose was an expansionist policy centered on Islam by force. And the Empire enjoyed the greatest prosperity in its history.”

However, that prosperity was only superficial. Policies favoring the Muslim minority ruling class were not well-received, and expansion relying on force inevitably weakened the Empire. In the end, the previous ‘Shah’s’ policies led to numerous protests and resistance. And now it has all come to a head.

“Actually, I could have become the Empress of the Empire back then, but…”

The Empress continued in a clear voice, as if reminiscing about the past.

“It’s better in many ways to be the Empress of the last legitimate emperor. For example, to take the lead in the future succession battle…”

It was a passing remark, but it was a word that couldn’t be ignored.

“The last legitimate emperor? No, more than that, a succession battle? Does that mean there will be a dispute over the throne?”

“No.”

The Empress said with a slight smile, as if it were obvious.

“The battle for succession has already begun. It’s just that the emperor refuses to acknowledge it.”

The princes and high-ranking officials who see the elderly emperor naturally think about the power of the next generation. Therefore, the battle for succession had been fiercely contested for a long time. However, only the emperor himself was turning a blind eye to it.

“The emperor is already old. But he will never designate an heir. That’s because it’s like admitting that the absolute power he’s just gained has slipped from his grasp.”

The emperor, who had finally reached the pinnacle of power in his old age, would never try to appoint an heir. Because at that moment, the power of the future would begin to encroach on the power of the present.

“Soon, the Imperial family will fall into a long period of chaos over the throne. And the Empire will be torn into several pieces, including the Southern Alliance and the Northwest Kingdom. The warlike Persian Empire will not miss that opportunity.”

The Empress smiled. She said it casually, raising her teacup to her lips.

“That’s how the Empire will fall.”

No one could speak. As if enjoying the silence, the Empress slowly savored the tea.

“…Why.”

The voice was Dang Wol-ah’s.

“Are you trying to bring down the Empire?”

The Empress put down her teacup and smiled thinly as if it were a foolish question.

“That’s because I’m a demon, little cute Dang family girl. Demons thrive in chaos and darkness.”

Dang Wol-ah admitted that her question was foolish. The Empress is a demon, as she herself has revealed.

“But.”

Clatter. The Empress put the teacup on the table and turned her head towards Sohn Bin. Her black eyes looked straight at him.

“If you want, everything will change. My ‘Raja’.”

“Sohn Gong-ja is not your ‘Raja’.”

Sa Su-yeon said, looking directly at the Empress.

“Not yet.”

The Empress, Sarasvati, who bears the name of a goddess, and Sa Su-yeon, the ‘Rani’ of Bukhae, who is called the incarnation of Apsaras [celestial nymph], the goddess of beauty. Two pairs of eyes, too beautiful, were shooting out sharp gazes, facing each other intensely.

“…Amazing.”

After a moment, the Empress let out a small sigh.

“You wouldn’t understand… Is this a woman’s instinct?”

The Empress said with a calm smile towards Sa Su-yeon, who had sharp eyes.

“Yes, not yet.”

That voice sounded somewhat lonely. The Empress turned her head towards Sohn Bin.

“What will you do?”

The Empress said with a soft smile.

“The fate of the Empire will be decided as ‘Raja’ wishes. And my fate too.”

Sohn Bin was silent but did not avoid her gaze. After a moment, he opened his mouth.

“Why do you call me ‘Raja’?”

“Because you are the one who is qualified. Qualified to rule us, and…”

The Empress quietly raised one hand.

Whirr.

A blue flame-like energy wrapped around her hand and bloomed as if rippling.

“Qualified to control this power.”

No one else could see that energy. Only Sohn Bin and Empress Sarasvati could.

“You can feel it now, right? How happy I am, and how happy this power is.”

As she said this, the blue flame-like energy inside Sohn Bin was humming as if resonating with the Empress’s. It was as if a small beast was begging to be let out. The Empress also looked at Sohn Bin with expectant eyes, but he did not unleash that blue energy.

“…How did you find out about me?”

Sohn Bin changed the subject. The Empress willingly followed his lead.

“It was when ‘Raja’ rejected the darkness of the abyss.”

In the Holy Valley of the Moon in Seojang, Sohn Bin faced the darkness of the abyss through the Great Devil’s Formation [ritual]. And he rejected that darkness.

“At that time, we all knew of your existence. It was something that no one had ever expected.”

The Empress said with a dreamy expression.

“Who could have known that ‘Raja’ was in this world? How could anyone have imagined that you existed in this era? It was an incredibly shocking and overwhelmingly ecstatic moment.”

“Ahem.”

Sohn Bin coughed slightly, feigning ignorance at the Empress’s slightly excited eyes and voice, and avoided her gaze. But she didn’t let him off the hook.

“So, ‘Raja’.”

Sohn Bin raised his eyes at the voice of Empress Sarasvati. The most beautiful, magical black eyes were looking straight at him.

“Command me.”

The Empress gently placed one hand on her chest and quietly lowered her eyes.

“If you do, I will obey.”

It was a breeze-like voice, but no one knew the weight it held. Hwang Bang-ju, who was watching from the side, swallowed hard. Sohn Bin was now at a point where he could change the Empress, and the history of the Empire, with a single word.

“…Your words.”

Sohn Bin said in a low voice.

“Must be sincere. Without a single lie.”

The Empress wore a soft smile. The blue flame-like energy rippling from her now clearly showed her sincerity. But Sohn Bin’s words weren’t over yet.

“But it won’t be all of it.”

The beautiful Empress’s smile did not disappear. Sohn Bin continued with a calm gaze.

“You already know what I want. So before you say you will obey me, what you must say first is…”

Sohn Bin said, looking straight at Empress Sarasvati.

“Exactly where the Gate of Naraka [Hell] opened by Cheonma [Heavenly Demon] is.”

That was a word that clearly showed Sohn Bin’s will and a clear rejection of the Empress’s proposal. The Empress was silent. The smile that had lingered on her lips was already gone. Seeing that, Sohn Bin sighed softly.

“What is it about that place that you are trying to stop me so much?”

“Indeed…”

The Empress said softly.

“Our ‘Raja’ is truly wise.”

She raised her head. The Empress looked straight at Sohn Bin, raising a smile as beautiful as a painting.

“My answer to that is only one.”

She was still smiling, but the Empress’s black eyes were no longer lovely or affectionate.

Whooosh.

At that moment, an enormous force began to pour out from Empress Sarasvati. Her hair fluttered in the force, and the saris rippled like waves. No Gun, as well as Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wol-ah, and even Seorin, instantly changed their expressions. Hwang Bang-ju, needless to say, turned completely pale.

“Above!”

The short voice that was heard was that of Geomhee. And a tremendous shock struck the detached palace.

Kwaang.

At the same time as No Gun clicked his tongue, he grabbed Hwang Bang-ju by the scruff of the neck and threw him back. Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah drew Myeongmi and Soweol, and Seorin immediately took out Hongjinmanri. But Sohn Bin and Geomhee did not move. They didn’t even draw their swords.

Whooooong.

In the middle of the reception room, where the shock subsided and everything was in a mess, someone appeared. A person wrapped in old, black cloth, with only a pair of eyes visible, stood in front of Sohn Bin with curved swords in both hands.

“He is the Sword Demon God, a demon god obsessed with swords.”

Empress Sarasvati was already standing.

“Defeat him. Then I will let you know everything.”

As if nothing had happened, she looked at Sohn Bin with an even more haughty expression.

“My ‘Raja’.”

She said with a cold gaze and a smile. It was the eyes of a demon god, utterly cold and merciless.

(Author’s words)

You should have called Sohn Bin separately to talk.