I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 126

< First Snow 1 >

“So, I’ll be sworn siblings with the Clan Lord.”

“Yes. From now on, don’t call me Clan Lord, call me ‘older brother.’ You need to get used to it.”

“Yes, Older Brother.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong gave Jo Gwang-yun a deep bow. Jo Gwang-yun was surprised by her sudden action but remained silent. He figured it was the proper etiquette for addressing an older brother for the first time, but when she finished bowing and stood up, there were even tears in her eyes. He was dumbfounded.

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

“I’ve lived alone under this vast Jungwon [Central Plains or Middle Kingdom, referring to the traditional heartland of Chinese civilization] sky. But now that I have an older brother to rely on, I’m overwhelmed with emotion… I’m sorry. I’ve shown you an unsightly side.”

She raised her hand and wiped away her tears.

Jo Gwang-yun watched Yang Ryeo-cheong shedding tears of joy, then slapped his knee and burst into hearty laughter.

“Excellent. If I hadn’t been paying attention, even I would have been fooled. Hahaha.”

At Jo Gwang-yun’s laughter, Yang Ryeo-cheong’s expression, which had been tearful, changed in an instant.

“Don’t tell me you even learned acting? Did the etiquette teacher teach you that?”

“No. I’ve known since I was young that there’s no weapon as powerful as a woman’s tears. I thought Clan Lord… no, Older Brother, would fall for it this time…”

It’s true that a woman’s tears are a great weapon, but you shouldn’t use them too often, and the effect varies greatly depending on beauty.

The tears of a beauty like Yang Ryeo-cheong are so deadly that they can put a man in danger, but the tears of an average woman are lucky if they don’t earn her a scolding from her husband.

“I’m not fooled because I know you well, but if it were a man who didn’t know you, he would have cried along with you.”

Jo Gwang-yun looked into Yang Ryeo-cheong’s eyes and began to reveal his hidden plan.

“You must climb the stairs to a world completely different from the one you’ve lived in. Those stairs are not easy enough to climb with just your looks.”

A woman’s beauty is a great advantage, but beauty tinged with vulgarity and sensuality is a fatal flaw for a woman. It’s hard to be seen as anything more than a sexual object to a man.

Beauty must have elegance, not sensuality, for a man to revere and worship her.

“That staircase is the Imperial Family, right?”

Jo Gwang-yun nodded.

“The Imperial Family is a dangerous place. Surviving there is no less difficult than in the Jianghu [the martial arts world]. No matter how low your rank, it’s hard to avoid being watched.”

“Low rank…?”

“Yes. I plan to send you to the side of the Emperor’s brother.”

The Emperor’s brother inherited the blood of the late Emperor, so he is a Prince.

Because he became a prince due to his bloodline, he is called a Prince (親王 – Qin Wang) to distinguish him from other kings (王 – Wang). Generally, in the case of princes, unlike other kings, they were rarely granted fiefs, but instead lived in a huge mansion called the Prince’s Residence (王府 – Wangfu), receiving a salary or pension.

“Whether you become his primary wife or a concubine depends on you. Of course, I will work hard to help you from behind. If you don’t make any mistakes, becoming the primary wife won’t be difficult.”

You used to smell the dirty sweat of many men and stayed by the side of wealthy old men. Now, you will rise to a dignified position where you can possess money, power, and even honor.

“How is it? Do you want to go? Up those stairs?”

Yang Ryeo-cheong nodded vigorously.

The moment her survival instinct, which had sustained her until now, turned into a desire for power.

“It’s not perfect, but I’m rushing because it seems like there won’t be another chance if it’s not now. You need to be more careful because I’m rushing.”

“I will keep that in mind, Older Brother.”

He smiled at Yang Ryeo-cheong, who bowed deeply again.

“You seem to have harmed your body studying, so get plenty of rest and eat well for a few days. You’ll be prettier with some plumpness.”

* * *

At first, he pondered a lot about sending her to the Emperor’s side.

With Yang Ryeo-cheong’s beauty, it wouldn’t be difficult to become the Emperor’s concubine if she caught his eye even once.

The Emperor’s external schedule can be obtained by checking with the Umyeongmun [Shadow Wing Gate, an intelligence organization], and if you cause a slight disturbance during that external schedule, you can meet him easily.

However, the Emperor’s wives are mostly connected by political relationships, so their families are powerful clans that share the power of this country.

The moment the Emperor cherishes Yang Ryeo-cheong, Jo Gwang-yun becomes no different from an enemy at odds with the powerful people of this country.

It was also questionable whether he could withstand their concentrated fire.

In the end, he chose a less risky option.

That is, the Emperor’s brother.

The Emperor had thirteen siblings, but only three survived.

Death follows the Imperial Family like a shadow. Whenever the Emperor feels the need to protect his position, he threatens others by killing his blood relatives. He uses his brothers as tools to say, “I can kill you guys like this at any time.”

Also, the Imperial Family kills brothers not because of brotherly love but because of concern.

The current Emperor also constantly said that he could not kill his blood brothers, but he killed them one by one with a single memorial from his vassals.

The Emperor’s brothers were once the Emperor’s sons and those with the right to inherit the throne. Even if they did not want the throne, if someone instigated them, it would become a justification for treason at any time.

Since there were as many as thirteen seeds of treason, the Emperor’s sleep was not comfortable either.

He eliminated them one by one, and now only three blood relatives remain. Of course, the three who survived do not know when they will be killed.

Two were banished to the frontier under the pretext of guarding the border, and the one who stays in the capital is the youngest, Gwak (廓).

Surviving is proof of being either clever or foolish.

According to Umyeongmun’s information, Gwak was clever.

He only did things that his older brother, the Emperor, would like, and he never met with officials privately. He constantly showed that he had no interest in politics, which is why he survived.

Another thing is that there is a gap of twenty years between him and the Emperor. Because of the large age difference, the Emperor seemed to treat him more like a grown-up son than a younger brother.

Jo Gwang-yun was planning to build a friendship with the clever Emperor’s brother, using Yang Ryeo-cheong as a medium. Approaching the Emperor by using his brother would at least avoid the jealousy of the women in the inner court, and the risk would be reduced accordingly.

As always, you have to choose a safe path, even if it takes a little longer.

“Tomorrow, you will enter a new world. This is just the beginning.”

“Are we meeting the Emperor’s brother?”

“Yes. Are you confident?”

Yang Ryeo-cheong smiled coyly.

All she has to do is meet him. Just looking at her face makes every man lose his mind. Learning was just a tool to avoid being abandoned; it’s not learning that makes men rush in, it’s her face.

“Where are we meeting?”

“Wolmyeongsa Temple (月明寺) [Moonlight Temple].”

“A temple? Men and women meet at a temple? Hoho.”

The money-hungry monks of this temple spread rumors that if you step on the first snow and make a wish under the stone pagoda, it will come true.

Thanks to this, Wolmyeongsa Temple was crowded with people every winter. This rumor eventually attracted people from the Imperial Family, and since then, no one has been able to step on the first snow.

This is because an imperial order was issued prohibiting entry until the cold wind began to blow and the first snow fell.

“The old people say that the first snow will fall at dawn today. Then, tomorrow morning, someone from the Imperial Family will come to step on the first snow. According to what I’ve heard, it’s Gwak’s turn to step on the first snow this time.”

He has stepped on the first snow for many years, but not many have had their wishes fulfilled. But now it has become a routine, and the Imperial Family members take turns stepping on the first snow.

“If he doesn’t like you when he sees you, you’re as good as dead, but I believe that won’t happen.”

“Don’t worry, Older Brother. Unless the Emperor’s brother is impotent or gay, he’s as good as in my hands.”

“Okay. Then go to bed early today. We’ll go to Wolmyeongsa Temple at dawn tomorrow.”

“Just a moment, Older Brother.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong said urgently.

“Then tonight will be my last night here.”

“Yes. I’ve prepared a small house not far from here. That’s your house. Everyone knows that the club is a brothel, but you can’t say you lived in a brothel.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong hesitated for a moment, then looked at Jo Gwang-yun and said.

“Then what are you going to do with the old woman who taught me etiquette?”

It was an expression that was impossible to know whether she was asking because she didn’t know, confirming while knowing, or worrying.

“What do you want me to do?”

“She’s a woman who knows my identity. Of course, there are a few people who know my identity, but the only person who will have a connection with the Imperial Family is that etiquette teacher. She could spread my identity to the gossipy maids of the Imperial Palace at any time.”

“So?”

“If I know you, Older Brother, you will definitely silence that woman.”

Jo Gwang-yun smiled quietly.

“Yes. That’s right. We can’t keep danger by our side.”

As she said she would kill the root, Yang Ryeo-cheong began to hesitate.

“Why? Should I spare her? If you want, I can put her on a trade mission to the Western Regions. Living in a strange land will be difficult, but she can save her life.”

“Ah, no. I want to kill that bitch with my own hands, Older Brother.”

She’s a poisonous woman.

It’s not that she wants to kill her just because she knows her secret. If it’s just for keeping the secret, there’s no reason to kill her directly.

“Was learning very difficult?”

It’s an expression that makes you hear the sound of grinding teeth.

“Today, I will completely wash away my past with that bitch’s blood, and tomorrow morning, I will be reborn by stepping on the white snow.”

“Poison is not a bad thing. But you must never reveal that poison and hide it in your heart.”

“This is the last time.”

Determination… No, her poisonousness, with her teeth clenched, did not seem to disappear easily.

Jo Gwang-yun called Gu Seung.

“Take this child and do whatever she wants.”

“I will obey.”

As Gu Seung and Yang Ryeo-cheong stepped back, Jo Gwang-yun sighed deeply.

“After all, it’s impossible to change even one’s nature with education.”

* * *

“You’ve worked hard to learn etiquette that didn’t suit you.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong’s etiquette teacher spoke with a cold expression until the end.

The woman who had spent fifty years on the border between life and death, day after day, after entering the Imperial Palace at the age of ten, was Yang Ryeo-cheong’s teacher.

The first thing she said when she met Yang Ryeo-cheong was a threat.

“The Jianghu lives with death, but it is insignificant compared to the Imperial Family. You must check whether everything you put in your mouth is poisoned, and your head will fly off with a single laugh.”

Starting with this threat, Yang Ryeo-cheong, who knew nothing but physical work, had to feel humiliated throughout her study period.

A woman without beauty has lived in the Imperial Palace for fifty years with the hope that something might happen. However, that chance never came, and she turned into an old woman with only stubborn arrogance that could not adapt outside the Imperial Palace.

In that woman’s eyes, Yang Ryeo-cheong was nothing more or less than a whore with the beauty to seize an opportunity if she approached the Imperial Family.

Jealousy was at the bottom of the teacher’s contempt for Yang Ryeo-cheong. Because beauty is the greatest weapon in the Imperial Palace.

“Thank you for your hard work in enlightening a foolish girl. I will not forget your grace.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong, who bowed politely, drew the sword that Gu Seung, who was watching, handed her.

“I’ve worked harder to endure your contempt and ridicule, old bitch. I want to tear you apart and kill you, but I’ll let you go easily in consideration of the affection I’ve built up.”

The bewildered, wrinkled face, which had not yet understood Yang Ryeo-cheong’s intentions, was distorted by pain in an instant.

The face turned into an expression of shock as she looked at the sword that had pierced her stomach, and then she collapsed.

The woman who fell with the sword stuck in her struggled in pain, and Yang Ryeo-cheong muttered as she watched her.

“Is there affection even in hatred? It’s not easy to watch her die.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong bowed to Gu Seung.

“Can I ask you to take care of the aftermath?”

< First Snow 1 > End