Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 283

283. Her Deal

With a serious expression, Unhyun said to Ha Yeongryeong,

“It’s dangerous.”

“What is?”

Releasing his finger from the blade, Unhyun continued,

“You shouldn’t trust people too much. Especially young men, who might do something impulsive.”

“You’re saying that as a man yourself?”

“Because I am a man.”

“Hehe.”

Ha Yeongryeong laughed.

“Can’t you see Seonno backing me up? Seonno can throw away three or four strong men like pebbles. He’s moving this boat with one hand right now.”

As she said, Seonno was quietly rowing, showing no signs of fatigue.

That was only natural for someone who had spent their entire life on the river.

“Honestly, men.”

Ha Yeongryeong said, sounding exasperated.

“Why do you meddle so much in other women’s affairs? It’s not like you’re going to take responsibility.”

Unhyun had nothing to say.

She was right.

“So, what are your impressions?”

“Pardon?”

“You just saw my legs. You should at least give me your impressions.”

“No, that’s…….”

“Go on.”

Ha Yeongryeong’s eyes sparkled.

She looked ready to draw her sword at any moment, so Unhyun had no choice but to answer.

“……Yes, they’re pretty.”

“Really?”

“Yes. They were very pretty.”

There was no lie in that answer.

“Ahahahahaha.”

However, Ha Yeongryeong laughed even louder.

“You’re the first. Hahaha, really.”

“What, what do you mean?”

Unhyun asked, sounding accusatory, but Ha Yeongryeong was already holding onto the boat with one hand and laughing.

“You’re the first person to actually give me your impressions when I asked you to talk about it. Ahahaha, really. Woohoohooo.”

Ha Yeongryeong wiped her eyes as she laughed.

She must have laughed so much that she was tearing up.

Unhyun couldn’t say anything and had to stay silent.

After laughing like that for a while, she looked at Unhyun with a face still full of laughter.

“Am I pretty?”

Her eyes were glistening with moisture.

Half resigned, Unhyun nodded.

“Yes. You’re pretty.”

“Good.”

Ha Yeongryeong smiled contentedly.

“I’ll take care of the marriage proposal. I’ll make sure there’s no damage to the Un Family Merchant Group. But I need to get something in return.”

“In return?”

“Surely you weren’t planning to trade empty-handed? That’s a scam.”

“Then what…….”

“Well…….”

After thinking for a moment, Ha Yeongryeong glanced at Seonno and gestured for Unhyun to come closer.

Unhyun was puzzled, but Ha Yeongryeong covered her mouth with her hand and brought her face closer.

As if telling a secret, Unhyun also leaned in, bringing his ear closer.

The moment Unhyun felt that Ha Yeongryeong’s expression, which was coming too close, was strange, he already felt a moist and soft sensation touching his lips.

“Huh!”

Unhyun suddenly seemed to come to his senses and stepped back in surprise.

He had even forgotten that a knife was placed on his neck.

Conversely, a triumphant smile spread across Ha Yeongryeong’s face.

“Good. I definitely got my reward.”

Ha Yeongryeong stuck out her tongue slightly and licked her lips.

That appearance was extremely seductive, but from Unhyun’s point of view, it couldn’t have been more embarrassing.

“Wh, what was that…….”

“Oh my, why? Was it perhaps your first time?”

Unhyun’s face immediately turned red, and Ha Yeongryeong was convinced that she was right.

“No way, at your age, that was your first time? Hohoho.”

Her leisurely laughter was full of the余裕 [composure] of a winner.

To Unhyun, who was flustered, she said with a relaxed expression as if delivering the final blow.

“What should I do? It wasn’t my first time. They say a first kiss means a lot to men, right?”

That was the same for women, but Unhyun couldn’t think about that.

Clang.

The sound of a sword falling was heard.

Ha Yeongryeong no longer needed a sword.

Unhyun’s expression, not knowing what to do with his embarrassment and shame, clearly showed who was in the dominant position now.

“Hehe, ohohoho.”

Ha Yeongryeong’s triumphant laughter flowed leisurely over the Zhujiang River [Pearl River] on a night lit by lights.

***

The Surveillance Commissioner of the vast Guangdong Province was the highest-ranking local official, along with the Administration Commissioner, who governed administration, and the Regional Military Commissioner, who was in charge of military affairs.

No matter how much wealth and influence one had, anyone in Guangdong had to bow and kowtow [show deep respect] before these high-ranking officials.

However, even these local officials had something to be nervous about.

That was the decree coming down from the Imperial Court.

Even though the local officials were guaranteed the maximum autonomy, disobeying the Imperial decree was never forgiven.

Moreover, the local officials always wanted to advance to the central government, so they were more sensitive than anyone else to the movements of the Imperial Court and the situation in the central government.

Therefore, it was only natural that Zhang Yonghwan, the Guangdong Surveillance Commissioner, could not hide his tension and anxiety at the order that had come down from the Eastern Depot [secret police agency] today.

“What on earth does this mean?”

Guangdong Surveillance Commissioner Zhang Yonghwan frowned.

In his hand, dressed in a splendid official robe, was a scroll that had just arrived.

The red silk scroll with the clear golden dragon pattern meant that it was an order from the Imperial Court containing the will of the Emperor.

“Well, as it is written, it is to actively cooperate with the special mission of the traveling Imperial Inspector and to ensure that there is no deficiency…….”

A junior official assisting the Surveillance Commissioner wiped away sweat and replied.

But the Surveillance Commissioner said, sounding frustrated.

“Who doesn’t know that? What is this special mission!”

“I have confirmed that the same order has been delivered to the Administration Commissioner and the Regional Military Commissioner. But at the moment, I cannot say anything…….”

“So isn’t that more of a problem!”

Thud.

The Surveillance Commissioner slammed the desk.

He knew the feelings of the aide, who could only repeat the same answer, but he was just as frustrated and anxious.

“The same order went to the Administration Commissioner and the Regional Military Commissioner! But how can it make sense that we don’t know anything about such an ominous matter!”

The Surveillance Commissioner frowned.

“Who is the Imperial Inspector in charge of Guangdong right now?”

“Well, I can’t know that right away, so the only way is to send a message to Beijing and find out secretly…….”

The identity of the traveling Imperial Inspector is confidential.

However, it is not difficult to find out by following the network of officials intertwined here and there.

The problem is that it takes several days to send a message to Beijing and receive an answer.

It was obvious that it would not be of any help right now.

“When can we wait for that? Isn’t that just another way of saying you don’t know!”

The aide flinched at the Surveillance Commissioner’s roar.

“Tsk!”

The Surveillance Commissioner grumbled, unable to contain his anger.

“Tsk, then can we only wait until the Imperial Inspector comes and explains it?”

The Surveillance Commissioner frowned and pondered.

‘The Censorate [imperial surveillance agency], the Censorate…….’

He already knew that the full authority of the Censorate had been handed over to Eunuch Park, the Byeongpil Taegam [chief secretary] of the Eastern Depot, by the Emperor’s edict.

In other words, this red scroll meant the order of Eunuch Park, the most powerful man in power.

“Ugh.”

The Surveillance Commissioner groaned without realizing it.

Eunuch Park was the most certain line to approach the future power center.

He was the one who could guarantee entry into the core of the central power that anyone wearing an official robe dreamed of.

‘If I can catch him, it would be unconditionally good…….’

The Surveillance Commissioner was not free from such greed.

Although he had never been involved in any special corruption and was a man without any major flaws as an official, it was also true that he had no outstanding achievements or merits to show off.

Isn’t that what officials are like in peaceful times when the system is stable?

‘If I move carelessly, something big might happen.’

Power is inherently like a dangerous tightrope walk.

If you take a step without knowing the situation, the aftermath will never be easy to handle.

The reason why the Surveillance Commissioner was badgering the innocent aide was also because of the anxiety that came from not grasping the exact situation.

‘Hmm, I don’t know when another opportunity like this will come…….’

Although Guangdong was a rich place, it was no different from the outskirts in terms of distance from the central power.

Having the opportunity to connect with Eunuch Park, the core power, in this place was something that could never be missed.

“How can I…….”

It was when the Surveillance Commissioner was muttering like that.

“Th, there is someone outside who says he is an Imperial Inspector.”

At the urgent voice, the Surveillance Commissioner stood up without realizing it.

The aide also quickly said to the outside.

“Quickly, come inside…….”

“No.”

Flutter.

The Surveillance Commissioner moved himself.

“I will go out.”

Originally, he would not have cared whether a useless Imperial Inspector from the Censorate came or went, but not now.

Step, step.

Flapping his splendid official robe, the Surveillance Commissioner stepped out of his office.

The aide followed him with a nervous expression.

***

“Are you saying you’re escorting a VIP?”

In a room with a subtle tea fragrance, Surveillance Commissioner Zhang Yonghwan said with surprised eyes.

“Even according to the Imperial protocol?”

“That’s right.”

Imperial Inspector Jo Gwan replied quietly.

“Therefore, my tour will end today.”

Usually, the only time an Imperial Inspector reveals himself to a local official is when he intends to impeach the local official.

Jo Gwan’s revelation that his tour had ended was also to confirm that this matter did not fall under normal business.

“I am trying to comply with the strict order, so I request the Surveillance Commissioner’s willing assistance.”

Even as an Imperial Inspector, Jo Gwan was lower in rank than the Surveillance Commissioner.

Jo Gwan did not forget his manners and took the form of requesting cooperation from the Surveillance Commissioner’s office instead of the Surveillance Commissioner personally.

It was the same anyway.

“Heo, according to the Imperial protocol…….”

The Surveillance Commissioner did not hide his dismayed expression.

According to the Imperial protocol means that it is in accordance with the official procession of the Imperial family.

Of course, this matter could not be an official Imperial event, but nevertheless, mentioning the Imperial protocol was a direct indication of how important this matter was.

“But if we do it according to the Imperial protocol, wouldn’t it be a big deal involving hundreds, or even thousands, depending on the scale? It’s a huge task that would require not only the Surveillance Commissioner’s office but also the Administration Commissioner’s office and the Regional Military Commissioner’s office to be tied up for several months. How can this happen so suddenly…….”

The problem was that the word Imperial protocol was more than just a simple ceremonial word.

It was not unreasonable for the Surveillance Commissioner to have a bewildered expression.

“It’s not like that…….”

Jo Gwan corrected the Surveillance Commissioner’s misunderstanding.

“He said to comply with the protocol but never make it noisy.”

The Surveillance Commissioner had a puzzled expression for a moment.

How can it not be noisy while complying with the Imperial protocol?

However, the Surveillance Commissioner, who had been eating the government’s salary for a year or two, soon realized the true meaning of this strange statement.

‘Aha.’

The point is to never displease the VIP who is being escorted.

“Ahem. I see.”

The Surveillance Commissioner, who had cleared his throat, asked cautiously.

“Then how should we do it?”

“Please prepare one hundred soldiers for escort, thirty cavalry, and five sturdy carriages. Of course, we also need the funds to go to Beijing.”

The Surveillance Commissioner looked back at the aide next to him.

The aide replied as if he had been waiting.

“It will not be difficult to request one hundred soldiers and thirty cavalry from the Regional Military Commissioner’s office. We have spare carriages, and the funds will be provided by the Administration Commissioner’s office.”

The Surveillance Commissioner nodded at the clear answer.

And looked at Imperial Inspector Jo Gwan.

“Will that be enough?”

If he wanted something more splendid and grandiose, he was willing to do it.

The important thing was to show as much sincerity as possible to the extent of mentioning the Imperial protocol, but never to displease the VIP.

“I think that will be enough for now.”

“Hmm.”

The Surveillance Commissioner had a slightly suspicious expression, but he didn’t say anything more.

After all, this Imperial Inspector will be responsible.