I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 457

< Remnants of the Old Era (4) >

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wishes to see us?”

“Yes. He wishes to speak with you at length regarding the future of both countries. How shall I convey your response?”

“We must accept, by all means. I will arrange a meeting for as early as tomorrow.”

The efforts I’ve invested in cultivating this relationship are finally yielding results.

Min Ja-young immediately consulted with her husband and began preparations to meet with the Crown Prince.

What other reason could there be for summoning her husband, rather than the current Crown Prince, to discuss the future of both nations?

However, to avoid any perception of ulterior motives, the stated purpose of the meeting was framed as a consultation regarding her husband’s potential study abroad in Great Britain.

Min Ja-young felt confident.

Unless they were entirely uninterested, it appeared they were testing the waters. If that were the case, she would do her utmost to please them while highlighting their potential value.

And when she saw Edward’s face, which seemed as guileless as ever, Min Ja-young’s conviction only deepened.

“Your Highness, I am truly grateful for arranging this meeting.”

“Hahaha, the gratitude is all mine for your prompt response.”

“I was quite surprised when I heard about it from the Prime Minister. Such a significant matter concerning the future of both countries! I was amazed that you would consider discussing such a crucial matter with us, Your Highness. I could truly sense your sincerity, and I am deeply honored.”

“Since you are responding so positively, this discussion should be much easier. The reason I requested this meeting is none other than… Oh, what was it again? Please wait a moment. I believe I have a letter from my father here.”

Seeing the Crown Prince rummage through his pockets for a piece of paper, as if he couldn’t recall the subject of the meeting, Min Ja-young chuckled softly, bowing her head slightly.

*Like father, like son.* He should have memorized his talking points before attending such a meeting.

Momentarily regaining her composure, she glanced around and, as expected, Kim Jwa-geun’s face was subtly stiff.

Regardless of how one viewed it, the Crown Prince was hardly someone to trust or follow due to his capabilities, but that was, in some ways, advantageous.

The more lacking such a powerful and influential figure was, the more freedom his close aides would have to maneuver.

“Please, take your time, Your Highness.”

“Ah, thank you. I’m not accustomed to this sort of thing, so it’s a bit… My father is really giving me a hard time by suddenly sending me with this kind of content. Ugh. This is my fate.”

His candid grumbling and heavy sighs evoked a sense of camaraderie, and Grand Prince Seongchin Lee Hyung offered heartfelt sympathy.

“Your Highness, you must be under a great deal of pressure.”

“Indeed. I still have to feign diligence if I aspire to be the Crown Prince of a country. Let’s see… Ah, here it is. This is a very important matter, so everyone present must keep it strictly confidential. Otherwise, the entire endeavor will be nullified, and you will face the consequences. For your information, the Prime Minister has already agreed to this.”

“We are known for our discretion, so you have no need to worry.”

“I understand. Then… how should I explain this? As members of the Joseon royal family, you may find this unpleasant, but it could ultimately benefit you both, so please don’t take it too harshly. First of all, my father is deeply concerned about the current state of affairs in Joseon.”

She had already anticipated this line of discussion when they were summoned, not the Crown Prince.

However, Min Ja-young was not naive enough to immediately take the bait.

Her husband was ill-suited for such political maneuvering and difficult to entrust with sensitive matters, but she was acutely aware that it would be unseemly for a woman to appear overly knowledgeable in this arena.

A delicate balance between appearing wise and avoiding the perception of being cunning.

She had to tread that tightrope carefully, coldly assessing what she could potentially gain from the other party.

“We pride ourselves on having fulfilled our duties as a loyal ally of the British Empire, so why the concern? Is there something we are doing amiss…?”

“Ah, that’s not it at all. It’s not that *you* are the problem, but rather that the military’s influence is becoming excessively pronounced. When the military becomes deeply entrenched in politics, significant negative repercussions are inevitable. Our home country has already witnessed the case of Napoleon, where those repercussions were taken to the extreme, so we cannot help but react with sensitivity to this situation.”

“I see.”

“But the current Joseon royal family appears to be condoning this trend. Upon investigating the reasons behind this, we suspect that the Joseon royal family is deliberately attempting to evade a promise they made with us in the past.”

The promise between Lee Ha-eung [the Heungseon Daewongun, father of Emperor Gojong] and Killian to ensure the succession of the Crown Prince to a royal who genuinely deserved to be king, not merely through simple inheritance.

Now that this old agreement, which they had no intention of honoring, had resurfaced, the corners of Min Ja-young’s lips subtly curved upwards.

The picture in her mind was now complete.

So, Joseon is reneging on its promise to the British Empire and, to that end, is deliberately encouraging the military’s unchecked power, which they find objectionable.

In particular, if Killian, a prominent figure within the British Empire’s royal family, holds this view, there is a strong likelihood that concrete actions will follow.

“I am sorry to hear that His Majesty feels that way. However, Joseon has always been a nation that values trust as much as life itself, so you need not worry excessively…”

“I cannot speak to that, as I am merely following my father’s instructions. My father stated the following: If the current Crown Prince ascends to the throne, the chaos in Joseon could accelerate, necessitating our intervention. Therefore, we must identify an alternative. What are your thoughts on Grand Prince Seongchin, the second prince? I have already expressed my opinion that he seems to be a kind and virtuous individual.”

“…Yes?”

She had never anticipated such an open declaration.

Min Ja-young, along with her husband Grand Prince Seongchin, stared blankly at Edward, who had made this astonishing statement, their mouths agape.

In essence, they were directly interfering in the succession process and installing a monarch who suited their preferences.

It was an outrageous intrusion into domestic affairs and a matter to be vehemently protested, but Min Ja-young found herself unable to utter a word.

Because they were offering to make her husband the Emperor of Joseon, what did she care about such meddling in internal matters?

However, now that the Empress’s seat, which she had long coveted, was truly within her grasp, she felt more bewildered than elated.

“I am deeply honored that Your Highness holds us in such high regard, but this is all so sudden…”

“I understand. I am not entirely certain that I should be doing this, so I am somewhat uneasy about it. However, my father believes that, unlike the Crown Prince, who is deeply entangled with the military, it will be easier to sever ties with the military if Grand Prince Seongchin ascends to the throne.”

“That is indeed the case. We are not particularly close to the military.”

“Then that is excellent news. If Grand Prince Seongchin ascends to the new throne of Joseon, my father’s concerns will be alleviated, and I will be able to trust you both, who have cultivated such a strong friendship, and entrust Asia to your care, allowing me to rest easy in the future. Is this not the realization of a world where everyone prospers? Hahaha!”

It was easily said, but it involved the overthrow of the Crown Prince of a nation. If it were that simple, it would have been done long ago.

“Did His Majesty provide any guidance on how to proceed with this?”

“Of course. My father suggested that the most effective approach would be to link the military and the Crown Prince together and depose them simultaneously. You mentioned earlier that you are not closely aligned with the military, but surely there must be some military personnel who are placing their bets on your side, correct?”

“Yes. One can never be certain, so there are individuals who are attempting to align themselves with us. However, most of them are individuals who are not in positions of significant influence.”

“Then that is even more advantageous, is it not? I believe they will actively cooperate.”

As Edward suggested, if this plan succeeded, the military would undergo a major reshuffling, making it easier to recruit those who had previously been overlooked.

However, even with that, the most significant obstacle remained.

What method could they employ to suppress the military, which was colluding with the current royal family and steadily gaining power? Min Ja-young struggled to devise a viable solution.

“Your Highness, does the British Empire intend to intervene directly…?”

“No. Of course, the situation would change if there were a justifiable reason. In truth, it would be easier if you two could provide such a justification…”

Edward subtly revealed the secret directive he had received from Killian, causing Min Ja-young and Grand Prince Seongchin’s eyes to widen.

“What are your thoughts? Is it feasible?”

“It might be possible… May I provide you with an answer by tomorrow? We need to consult with our associates.”

“Certainly. In fact, I am not in any particular hurry, so I can wait as long as necessary.”

As the Crown Prince pointed out, they were the ones facing a time constraint, not him.

Min Ja-young exchanged a look with her husband, immediately rose from her seat, offered her respects to Edward, and departed from the room.

*‘Regardless, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity bestowed upon us by fate. I must seize it.’*

If she could capitalize on this opportunity, she would attain the Empress’s seat she had so long desired.

It was also possible to proceed with Killian’s plan, as there were military figures on their side who were closely connected to them.

A new era.

If they suppressed the power of the military and her husband, Grand Prince Seongchin, became the Emperor of the new Joseon Empire, she would become the Empress, and her family would amass power surpassing even that of the Andong Kim clan [a powerful Joseon Dynasty clan] of the past.

Moreover, if she maintained a close relationship with the future Emperor of the British Empire, her influence would soar even higher, and Joseon’s prosperity would be virtually guaranteed.

Then, the name of Min Ja-young would be etched into Joseon’s history for all time.

To welcome that day, which was now a tangible possibility, not merely a distant aspiration.

Her ambition burned even more intensely.

* * *

“…They’ve completely taken the bait.”

Kim Jwa-geun, who had been staring blankly at the space where the two had departed, forced an awkward smile and assessed the situation.

“Even if they were unaware of anything else, they would inevitably succumb to the allure of becoming king. Especially if they were individuals who had been desperately yearning for that position from the outset.”

“You’re using poison to combat poison, contacting the two of them to undermine the mainstream faction by exploiting the remnants of the military.”

“There’s also the fact that the current Emperor’s second son will be the next Crown Prince, so the domestic sentiment in Joseon will be more favorable. The current Emperor desires a family succession, making open intervention difficult.”

“…I see.”

“I was in discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister last night, and he expressed a desire to be involved in this operation, so please speak with him as soon as you leave here, Prime Minister. The more sensational the incident, the better. If not only Joseon citizens but also Japanese individuals are implicated, the fire will burn even more fiercely, correct?”

Seeing Edward’s coldly smiling face, Kim Jwa-geun felt a chill run down his spine.

He had feigned clumsiness in front of Madam Min and Grand Prince Seongchin, but when he revealed his true nature, every word was chillingly cold.

*I apologize, intelligence officers.*

It wasn’t that you were negligent and submitted inaccurate reports.

He had been concealing his true abilities and exploiting his father’s reputation, so it was no wonder that rumors circulated about his supposed inferiority complex towards his father.

It wasn’t the fault of the embassy staff.

“Your Highness… but there is still one remaining issue. There is a cause-and-effect relationship in everything, but even if we undermine the royal authority, if such an incident were to occur suddenly without any prior warning, the public’s reaction would inevitably be divided, correct? Logically, there would be no apparent reason for the military to act in such a manner.”

“We can simply fabricate a reason. At the next social gathering, I will casually mention that there are several domestic politicians who are concerned about the ongoing war in Asia. Then, Prime Minister, you can misinterpret that statement and publish an article claiming that the British Empire may not want Joseon to fully annex Manchuria. Of course, you will have to retract it as fake news, but before that happens, the radicals within the military who see it will become enraged and instigate an incident.”

“…Oh my god…”

“Speed is of the essence in this matter. As soon as the problem erupts, arrest the ministers of the military, and have Grand Prince Seongchin step forward to restore order. We will provide support from the sidelines, so reassure him that he has nothing to fear.”

Later, Kim Jwa-geun would recall:

-*There’s no bad seed under a good father; a tiger gives birth to a tiger.*

The days when everyone is reveling in the festive atmosphere and this pleasant interlude will last are numbered.

The very next day, Kim Jwa-geun, having received confirmation from Grand Prince Seongchin and his wife that they would participate in the revolt, resolved to bring this fleeting spring in Hanseong [old name for Seoul] to an end.