I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 176

< The Birth of a New Life 1 >

“Lord Jang.”

“Who is it?”

Jang Cheong-un was surprised to see a court lady from Haan Palace. A woman who serves the harem had no business visiting the guards.

“I am Hong-yeon. I am currently attending to Lady Yang.”

“Currently?”

“I am a member of the Azure Dragon Gate [a secret society or martial arts sect] and under the command of Lord Jo Gwang-yun.”

“Lord Jo? And if you’re from the Azure Dragon Gate, are you also a martial artist?”

“Yes. I entered Sa-ga [likely refers to the Imperial Palace or a specific area within it; clarification needed based on context] as a maid to protect Lady Yang.”

*As expected of Jo Gwang-yun*, he almost laughed. *Is there any corner of the Imperial Palace where his influence doesn’t reach?*

“Alright, what brings you here?”

Hong-yeon handed over a piece of paper.

“This is a message from Lord Jo. He asks that you follow it to the letter. Then, I will take my leave.”

Left alone, Jang Cheong-un quickly unfolded the paper.

The paper contained a drawing of Haan Palace and the western outer wall of the Imperial Palace, with a ‘request’ to ensure that no guards were visible along the path connecting the two for the next fifteen days.

After staring intently at the paper for a long time, Jang Cheong-un frowned.

“This… this can’t be!”

He was reminded that Lady Yang’s childbirth was not far off.

“What on earth is he planning?”

*To have the guards completely removed in time for his sister’s childbirth?*

Granting the ‘request’ would be repaying a favor, but the method was so suspicious that he couldn’t possibly comply.

Jang Cheong-un had to meet Jo Gwang-yun to clear up this uneasy feeling.

Without hesitation, he headed to Jo Gwang-yun’s house.

Jo Gwang-yun looked at Jang Cheong-un, who was questioning him while holding out the paper, and thought that he had a very meticulous personality for a martial artist.

“Do you know why I asked you to guard the west for fifteen days?”

“It must be to protect Lady Yang until childbirth. I understand that much. But you’re telling me not to even go near Haan Palace, where Lady Yang resides? I can’t accept that at all. What are you thinking?”

“It’s the same reason. It’s for Lady Yang and the baby that will be born soon.”

“Do you think that makes sense? Strengthening the security of Haan Palace is what’s best for Lady Yang.”

Jo Gwang-yun chuckled as he watched Jang Cheong-un argue point by point.

*He was still far off.*

“I’ve deployed Azure Dragon Gate martial artists on the western outer wall of the Imperial Palace. It’s impossible for anyone to climb over the wall. That means there are no external threats.”

“Then are you saying there are internal threats within the palace?”

“That’s why I asked you to take charge of the west. Because you’re the only one I can trust.”

“Then why did you tell me to leave Haan Palace empty?”

“I trust you, but I don’t trust all of the guards under your command.”

“Lord Jo! That’s absurd.”

Jo Gwang-yun shook his head as Jang Cheong-un jumped up.

“I don’t trust anyone who works in the Imperial Palace. If I offered them a thousand gold coins to kill Lady Yang and commit suicide on the spot, I bet three or four of your subordinates would step forward. Do you know how many people would risk their lives for a lump of gold?”

“Who would dare to kill Lady Yang, who is receiving the Emperor’s undivided attention? You’re overthinking it.”

“Do you know the identity of Hong-yeon, who visited you today?”

“Yes. I heard she’s a martial artist from the Azure Dragon Gate.”

“There are two more besides Hong-yeon. How much poison do you think those kids have consumed in the meantime?”

“What?”

Jang Cheong-un’s eyes widened. Poison all of a sudden?

“After my sister entered the palace, all the food and tea she brought to her mouth were tasted by those three women first. She did that because she has enough internal energy [qi or chi, vital energy in traditional Chinese medicine] to expel small amounts of poison from her body. Since entering the palace, she has received tea and food laced with poison countless times, and even more so after she became pregnant. Am I still overthinking it?”

Jang Cheong-un’s mouth dropped open at Jo Gwang-yun’s lies, which he uttered without the slightest change in expression.

“In a few days, the baby will be born, and if that baby is a boy, the women of the inner court who think he might become the heir to the throne will be extremely anxious by now. Since poison doesn’t work, they’ll resort to the last resort. That’s physical means, assassination.”

“H-How could such a thing…”

“Are you confident that all of your subordinates won’t be swayed by even billions of gold? Can you guarantee it with the lives of Lady Yang and the baby that will be born soon?”

Jang Cheong-un couldn’t say anything.

“You don’t know how dangerous the inner court is. The inside is like a land of demons. I asked you to do this to protect my sister. So I hope you’ll follow my wishes without saying anything. Do you have anything else to say?”

“I’m sorry.”

Jo Gwang-yun let out a long sigh of relief as Jang Cheong-un lowered his head. Of course, it would look like a worried sigh to Jang Cheong-un.

“Go back. Keep a close eye on things, because you never know what might happen at this hour. Make sure no one goes near Haan Palace.”

Jang Cheong-un returned with a heavy heart.

Watching his drooping shoulders, Jo Gwang-yun smiled quietly.

“Even if he’s meticulous, he’s still a martial artist. Peel back one layer and he’s just a stubborn ox. Hehe.”

* * *

Six days had passed since the royal physician had assured her that she would give birth within ten days, and Yang Ryeo-cheong felt bleeding. Soon after, labor pains came, and she knew instinctively that today was the day.

Yang Ryeo-cheong quietly said to Hong-yeon.

“We need to call the royal physician.”

“Surely not now…?”

Hong-yeon was surprised and examined Yang Ryeo-cheong, whose thighs were already wet, indicating that her water had broken.

This was a big problem.

Everything prepared for the sake of the operation would go smoothly if she gave birth late at night when everyone was asleep, but it was broad daylight when everyone was awake. If even the slightest groan from Yang Ryeo-cheong leaked out and the birth became known, it was obvious that all the hard work would collapse.

If that happened, the opportunity to switch the baby if a girl was born would be lost.

Hong-yeon diligently racked her brain.

“Your Ladyship, you must grit your teeth and bear it, even if the pain is severe. If any sound leaks out, it will ruin everything.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong ground her teeth and said.

“Y-You crazy bitch. Do you think giving birth is like taking a dump? How can I bear it?”

Hong-yeon’s eyes burned red as Yang Ryeo-cheong glared at her.

“Bear it. You know how much effort Lord Jo has put into this, right? If anything goes wrong, even a little bit, I’ll cut your neck off first. Keep that in mind!”

Yang Ryeo-cheong was so taken aback by Hong-yeon’s sudden change in attitude that she even forgot her labor pains, and she nodded her head without realizing it under Hong-yeon’s terrifying pressure.

Hong-yeon came out of the bedchamber and gathered all the maids and eunuchs of Haan Palace.

“Her Ladyship wishes to enjoy an afternoon nap. She asks that everyone return to their quarters and rest for a while.”

“No, we’re fine.”

She had to drive away the eunuchs and court ladies guarding the outside of the bedchamber first. If they heard the sound, everyone in the palace would know in less than a moment.

“Are you going to disobey Her Ladyship’s orders? Isn’t this a time when even the slightest sound is bothersome? When the sensitive Lady shows generosity, follow it to the letter.”

She had to raise her voice and glare. There was no time to spare.

“Well, she says it’s okay…”

After confirming that everyone had left, Hong-yeon ran to the Royal Physician’s Office, and Cheong-yeon crossed the wall of the Imperial Palace to inform Jo Gwang-yun of this emergency.

Ja-yeon focused all her attention on guarding Haan Palace, preventing anyone from approaching.

#

“Elder, just a moment.”

Hong-yeon called the two royal physicians who had decided to share their fate with her.

“What’s going on? Could it be?”

As soon as they saw Hong-yeon’s expression, they sensed that labor had begun.

Hong-yeon nodded, and the faces of the two royal physicians hardened.

“Oh dear, already?”

Just as they were about to move quickly, Hong-yeon stopped them.

“The birth of Lady Yang must not be known now.”

“What do you mean? How can you hide a birth?”

“Listen carefully. This kind of thing will never happen again. It’s a one-time opportunity. But what if the baby born is a girl?”

“How can we control what Heaven wills…?”

“Will the two of you follow Heaven’s will? Or will you follow Lord Jo’s will?”

“W-Well, of course, we must follow Lord Jo’s will.”

“Lord Jo’s will is that he will see his nephew today, and that nephew must be a son, no matter what. Even if it means switching him with a boy if it’s a girl. Do you understand?”

Under Hong-yeon’s pressure, the royal physicians hurriedly nodded their heads and added an explanation.

“We’re not strangers, we’re all in the same boat… If there was such a plan, why didn’t you tell us in advance?”

Hong-yeon showed a respectful attitude towards them again.

“This is what Lord Jo instructed. He said that if the two of you knew about this plan in advance, you would have spent the past few months living in anxiety. He was considerate of the two of you. There’s no time. Are you going to keep arguing?”

“A-Ah, no. We’ll prepare and go soon, so go back first.”

Hong-yeon bowed her head to the two royal physicians and ran back to Haan Palace.

#

“It has begun.”

Cheong-yeon came to Jo Gwang-yun, soaked in sweat.

“What? Now?”

There was no need to say ‘now’. It was right to admire the accurate diagnosis of the royal physician who said she would give birth within ten days.

It was futile to hope that the baby coming into the world would adjust day and night for the sake of the operation.

“You go back to the palace. As soon as the baby comes out, you must run back without delay. If it’s a girl or a boy who seems too weak to live long, switch it. And absolutely no one must know about the birth now.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The three women were moving more frantically than Yang Ryeo-cheong, who was giving birth today.

#

Goo Seung had been dealing with the doctors who cared for various mothers. But now, every moment was crucial.

There was no time to put Goo Seung in the middle and exchange words.

Jo Gwang-yun had to meet the doctor directly.

“Do you think everyone will believe it if we say that the boy born some time ago was born today?”

The doctors saw Goo Seung bowing deeply to Jo Gwang-yun and realized that this man was the one who had created this bizarre situation. They spoke politely. *Wasn’t he the patron?*

“Ordinary people would believe it, but we can’t fool the eyes of midwives or doctors.”

It was enough to drive him crazy. Only three out of twenty-eight had given birth, and the rest were still pregnant.

“How many mothers do you think will give birth by tonight?”

“Three.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. They’ve already started labor.”

He never thought there would come a moment when he would desperately want induced labor or a cesarean section!

“Hurry up. A boy must be born by sunset.”

The doctors couldn’t answer and just blinked. *Was that something that could be done with human power?*

“We will do our best.”

That was the best the doctors could answer.

Goo Seung, who was watching from the side, shouted as if frustrated.

“Damn it! How much money have you bastards taken so far, and that’s all you can say? With that money, you should make a boy and bring him here.”

Jo Gwang-yun pretended not to know and turned his head.

Seeing this, Goo Seung became even more ferocious.

He drew his sword and threatened the doctors.

“I won’t say much. If you don’t make a boy by sunset, today is your memorial day [day of remembrance of one’s death]. Keep that in mind!”

The doctors saw Goo Seung’s glaring eyes and realized that it was not a simple threat.

“Y-Yes. P-Please give us some time, we will definitely offer a boy.”

The doctors rushed into the room where the mothers were.

Not only the doctors, but everyone felt the same way. The short half-day felt too short today.

< The Birth of a New Life 1 > End