I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 159

The two royal physicians who secretly knocked on the club’s door late at night were startled when Jo Gwang-yun greeted them.

The letter only mentioned relieving unfulfilled desires from their last visit, but they were surprised to see the man who had supposedly left for Fujian Province.

“Assistant Jo? Weren’t you supposed to be in Fujian Province?”

“I left. Ostensibly.”

“What on earth are you talking about…?”

“Certain events need to occur while I’m ‘away’ to avoid suspicion. So, I had to use this method.”

The two men swallowed hard. The “certain events” Jo Gwang-yun mentioned clearly weren’t trivial.

“I’ve thoroughly reviewed your investigation. And I’ve reached this conclusion: the current prince is not of the Emperor’s bloodline.”

Such disloyal words, practically treasonous, were spoken, yet they weren’t surprised. They were already of the same mind, accomplices in the same scheme.

“What I’m sure of is that the Empress refused the royal physician sent by the Emperor when she was at her parents’ home. This was before she was even pregnant. If the royal physician had confirmed that, our plans would have failed. The Empress, not even pregnant, couldn’t have returned to the palace with a child.”

“Assistant Jo, don’t even think about making this public. Without evidence, we’ll be counterattacked.”

“Of course. I have no intention of making it public. That way, even if Court Lady Yang has a child, there won’t be a problem.”

“Court Lady Yang…!”

The two men understood.

“You… you’re going to use the same method as the Empress?”

“That’s right. The Empress will likely go mad. She thought the Emperor couldn’t father children, so she used dishonest methods, but now Court Lady Yang is pregnant?”

“She’ll never believe it. If the Emperor was capable, at least one or two other concubines should be pregnant.”

“Exactly. So, won’t she lose her mind? But she can’t accuse her of infidelity. Just like us. No, in fact, she should be grateful. When Court Lady Yang becomes pregnant, the suspicion focused on the Empress will vanish like snow.”

It was a double-edged sword. No, a sword with only a blade, no handle. Grabbing it meant mutual destruction.

“It’s a clever plan, but… it’s too dangerous.”

“It’s dangerous, but we’ll use a safer method than the Empress did.”

“How?”

“The Empress’s pregnancy was known after she returned from her parents’ home. So, anyone could be suspicious. Did she commit adultery while staying there? Aren’t all the royal physicians, including you, suspicious? Perhaps everyone in the palace has suspected it at least once.”

That was true. They all must have suspected it at least once, but they certainly couldn’t voice it.

“But Court Lady Yang will become pregnant without leaving the palace. Then no one will suspect it. The only man who shares a bed with Court Lady Yang is His Majesty.”

The two men frowned.

“Please explain it so we can understand. Isn’t that impossible?”

“One day, Court Lady Yang will cough a little. Then you two will take her pulse and discover that she has conceived. How about that?”

The two men’s faces paled again.

“Wh-what… You’re saying we should falsely declare her pregnant?”

“The order is just slightly different. We announce it first, then conceive later.”

“How? Is Assistant Jo planning to enter a coffin? To feign shock at his brother’s death, like the Empress did?”

“Haha. You’re good at joking. I have no intention of inviting Court Lady Yang to my funeral. Didn’t I say Court Lady Yang would cough? It’s dangerous to take medicine carelessly when you’re pregnant… How about taking a month off at a hot spring? That’s when she conceives.”

The two men fully understood Jo Gwang-yun’s plan.

“It sounds plausible, but…”

The two royal physicians nodded, then startled. They realized they were agreeing, having fallen for Jo Gwang-yun’s rhetoric.

“Assistant Jo, is it really necessary to bring this danger upon ourselves? The Emperor cherishes Court Lady Yang so much. Why invite disaster?”

“To avoid the certain disaster that will come in the future, we must endure even if the current action is somewhat dangerous.”

“What disaster are you talking about?”

“If the Empress’s son becomes the Crown Prince and ascends the throne, do you think the Empress will let Court Lady Yang live? She’ll somehow frame Court Lady Yang and kill her. Then I won’t be safe either.”

The two royal physicians were speechless. It was certain the Empress wouldn’t let Court Lady Yang live. It was unbelievable she was restraining her fiery temper.

“But if Court Lady Yang has a son, it’ll be different. I’m sure the Emperor will pass the throne to Court Lady Yang’s son. Then the Empress will be either the mother of the Crown Prince, or the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor’s birth mother. The balance is right. Court Lady Yang and I are safe.”

“If it’s a son, that’s true, but what if it’s a daughter?”

“We’ll have to accept it as heaven’s will. If a princess is born after doing such heinous things, I can’t do anything more.”

That’s why it had to be a son. A male heir had to be born, no matter what.

“All you have to do is simple. Say she’s pregnant. That’s all. I’ll take care of the rest.”

The two men hesitated and said,

“If… things go wrong…”

“It could be a misdiagnosis… and isn’t it common to miscarry in the early stages of pregnancy? If the pregnancy fails, we’ll say it was a miscarriage. At that time, you two will submit your resignations, taking responsibility. I’ll prepare you to retire to your hometown and enjoy wealth and glory.”

If it goes well, they’ll be top contributors. Even if it doesn’t, they’ll enjoy wealth and glory. It was a good deal with no reason to hesitate. But in the worst case, what if the Emperor demands death as payment for the miscarriage…?

Reading the anxiety in their eyes, Jo Gwang-yun said,

“The Emperor isn’t that reckless. Has a royal physician ever been executed for the illness or death of a member of the imperial family? The Emperor believes life is in the hands of heaven. If the Emperor is furious and orders your deaths, Court Lady Yang will plead with tears. The worst case isn’t death, but flogging.”

Jo Gwang-yun soothed them, relieving their anxiety and worries.

“Examine Court Lady Yang and pick the best time to conceive. Before that, she has to cough and announce the pregnancy. And then immediately move to the hot springs to actually conceive. Do you understand?”

The two men swallowed hard.

They were just trying to sleep with a beautiful courtesan at a famous club, but they got caught up in this huge mess.

But they also knew their greed played a part.

“Now, let’s set a date for the operation and proceed. Before that, you have to finish what you couldn’t finish last time.”

When Jo Gwang-yun clapped his hands, the door opened and two courtesans walked in gracefully.

“Please have a good rest.”

The two men couldn’t believe Jo Gwang-yun’s composure as he smiled and left, able to smile even in the face of such a huge task. It seemed inhuman.

* * *

Early in the morning, Jo Gwang-yun, wearing shabby clothes, sat at a noodle shop at the end of the market alley.

After a while, the contact appeared and bowed respectfully.

“It’s been a while. Long time no see, Master Jo.”

Jo Gwang-yun said to the man,

“I need to meet the leader of the Dark Shadow Gate. Tell him to come to the club today at Yu time [5-7 PM].”

As Jo Gwang-yun stood up abruptly, the man blocked his path.

“Master, why are you suddenly doing this? Our leader never meets with clients.”

“There’s no such thing as ‘never’ in this world. If the leader doesn’t show up today, the Dark Shadow Gate will disappear. Keep that in mind.”

“No, do you think we’ll submit to such ridiculous threats?”

“If the leader of the Dark Shadow Gate took my words lightly, he wouldn’t have lasted this long. Anyway, no need to argue. Just tell the leader.”

Jo Gwang-yun didn’t argue further and returned to the club.

He fell into thought about the Emperor’s two surviving brothers: Prince Pyeongwon, named Gwak, and Prince Seongwon, named Pyo.

Prince Pyeongwon, Gwak, stayed in the capital, holding a sinecure position managing books or affairs within the royal household.

It was hard to tell if the Emperor kept him close because he cherished his brother, or to keep a close eye on him.

Prince Seongwon, Pyo, guarded the northern border. His role wasn’t to hold military power, but to monitor the Great Wall and the generals of the border guards. He wasn’t given military power, likely due to concerns he might revolt.

Jo Gwang-yun was concerned about these two because they were closest to the Emperor’s seat if something happened to the Emperor.

To judge them, more information was needed, especially the Emperor’s true feelings. Was he wary, or did he leave them alive because there was no need to be wary?

There was no better place than the Dark Shadow Gate to investigate the imperial family’s secret relationships. If he asked Wi Chung-hyeon or Yun Ju-seong, they’d immediately suspect his intentions.

At Yu time, a visitor arrived.

“Master, someone wants to see you.”

A young man carefully opened the door and came in. He was much younger than the contact.

“Are you the leader of the Dark Shadow Gate?”

“Yes, Master. I greet you. My name is Bi-rim.”

The young man bowed deeply.

“Bi-rim” was probably not his real name. Jo Gwang-yun would soon confirm if this young man was the real leader, or just pretending.

“Were you surprised I asked to meet you in person?”

“I thought this day would come. In fact, it’s much later than expected.”

“I’m glad you expected it. I asked you here because I have a few requests.”

“It must be so secret that even the contact shouldn’t know.”

Jo Gwang-yun nodded.

“It’s about the Empress.”

Bi-rim’s expression hardened slightly.

“The Empress… Are you thinking of putting Court Lady Yang on the chessboard and competing?”

“Competition? No, elimination.”

His expression hardened further.

“Investigate whether the Empress’s son is definitely the Emperor’s biological son. If you bring evidence he isn’t, I’ll give you ten gold bars. If you bring evidence he is, I’ll give you five gold bars. How about it?”

“Master, you want him to not be a biological son.”

“I’m not telling you to bring me the answer I want, but the truth. The price is higher because I think it’s harder to find evidence he isn’t.”

“I refuse the request.”

“Why? Is the payment too small? Should I double it?”

“It’s not about the money. I don’t do things that involve dipping my hands in poison.”

Looking at Bi-rim, who spoke calmly, Jo Gwang-yun smiled slightly.

“You are the leader of the Dark Shadow Gate.”

“Yes?”

“The one who makes difficult decisions on the spot is the leader. If you’d asked for time to think, I’d have kicked you out and slowly torn the Dark Shadow Gate apart.”

Bi-rim’s calm eyes wavered slightly.

End