I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 177

< The Birth of a New Life 2 >

“Your Majesty, please listen carefully to what I have to say from now on.”

The royal physician, who had placed a thin silk cloth on Yang Ryeo-cheong’s wrist to take her pulse, carefully began to speak. The trembling fingertips and bloodless, pale faces of the two royal physicians betrayed their extreme nervousness.

“With utmost respect, we must touch Your Majesty’s sacred body. Only we and the three court ladies will assist in Your Majesty’s childbirth. And Your Majesty must ensure that the sounds of labor pains do not escape this room.”

“What about the baby’s cries?” Hong-yeon asked worriedly.

The cry of a newborn entering the world is a loud announcement of its arrival. Their worry stemmed from the impossibility of silencing that cry.

“If it’s a prince, there won’t be a problem, but if it’s a princess…”

The doctor trailed off. If it was a princess, the situation was beyond their control.

“If it’s a girl… Ugh, just kill her. It’s better to die… during childbirth. A mother who loses her child… sob! At least receives sympathy.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong managed to utter each word with difficulty, fighting through the pain.

“And even if it’s a boy… Ugh… if he’s frail… Haa, haa… just kill him. A weak boy will suffer… even worse later.”

Hong-yeon hadn’t asked to hear this, but it served as a stark warning to the royal physicians to be prepared for anything.

The fact that the mother possessed such resolve meant the royal physicians had to be ready.

And it worked.

The trembling in their fingertips subsided, replaced by a newfound resolve.

#

Jo Gwang-yun prayed fervently for the women’s screams to end quickly.

More than that, he desperately longed for someone to rush from the palace and announce the birth of a son.

In his life, he had only prayed with such intensity when a promotion announcement [ 인사발령 – personnel appointment] was imminent, but today, his prayers were a hundred times more sincere.

At that moment, a faint baby’s cry pierced through the women’s screams.

Finally!

One was born. Would it be a boy?

His hands clasped together involuntarily.

A doctor ran out as the door opened.

“It’s… it’s a boy.”

Before his relieved heart could fully settle, he asked again.

“Is he healthy?”

“Yes. He is healthy.”

He clenched both fists.

Okay. He had cleared one hurdle.

“Have him breastfeed quickly. The baby needs to eat well and sleep soundly.”

“Ah, yes. I will do that.”

He didn’t know who the mother was or whose seed it was, but this child might very well become the future emperor of the country.

Jo Gwang-yun was now solely focused on awaiting news of Yang Ryeo-cheong’s childbirth.

#

Yang Ryeo-cheong’s entire body was drenched in sweat. She bit down on a round piece of wood wrapped in silk, desperately trying to stifle her groans.

If the sound leaked out and someone noticed, everything would be over. The tower she had painstakingly built would collapse in an instant. She couldn’t afford to lose consciousness.

A wave of extreme pain surged and then receded.

She had done it.

But she couldn’t hear the baby’s cry.

Mustering all her strength, she lifted her head and saw Cheong-yeon hurrying out.

The doctor’s disappointed expression and Hong-yeon holding a bloody mass were clearly visible even through her blurred vision.

“A… girl…?”

Hong-yeon nodded silently.

“End it.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong closed her eyes and turned her head, uttering only those words.

Was it because she feared her resolve would weaken if she saw the face of the baby she had just brought into the world?

Hong-yeon urged the two royal physicians.

“You two should quickly return to the Royal Physician’s Office. I will call you again when we are ready.”

“Understood.”

The two royal physicians retraced their steps to the Royal Physician’s Office, leaving behind the Guibin Mama’s [Guibin is a high-ranking concubine] disappointed expression.

“Jo Gwang-yun, you bastard! If things go wrong, I will never forgive you.”

A venomous voice escaped Yang Ryeo-cheong’s clenched teeth.

Tears streamed down her face. She had to lie on the blood-soaked silk bedding, inhaling the metallic scent, after ordering the death of her own child, all while waiting for the boy to be swapped.

No matter what, this scheme had to succeed.

The fingernails of her tightly clenched fist dug into her flesh.

#

At the training ground, Jang Cheong-un’s squad, known as the Hell Unit, were emaciated but their eyes burned with fierce determination.

They had lost track of how many days had passed. They were simply waiting for their ruthless squad leader to end this grueling training.

If the squad leader’s martial arts skills were even slightly inferior, they would have already committed insubordination.

Jang Cheong-un barked at the guards.

“Everyone, listen up! Last night, I clearly outlined the route to the main hall, yet not a single one of you found me. Are you all blind?”

The squad members kept their heads bowed. But no one seemed ashamed. How could ordinary soldiers possibly detect a master of martial arts infiltrating with stealth techniques?

“What? Why do you all look like that? Are you dissatisfied?”

“No, sir!”

They shouted with all their might. Any sign of weakness would invite a beating.

“Today, we will train again on the same route. If you don’t show results even with the same training, you will pay the price. Do you understand?”

Jang Cheong-un was solely focused on pushing the squad members to their absolute limits. If they were so tired and exhausted that they could barely move, they wouldn’t have the energy to think.

The squad members shouldn’t be questioning the lack of personnel 배치된 [baechidoen – deployed] around Haan Palace. Jang Cheong-un needed to keep them in a state of exhaustion until this whole thing was over.

But he himself wasn’t exhausted or tired.

After the squad members returned to their positions, Jang Cheong-un quietly began to survey the area around Haan Palace.

Just then, he heard a faint sound cutting through the wind.

Turning his gaze to the source, he saw a woman with extraordinary footwork running like an arrow. Her 경공 [gyeonggong – light body skill, a martial art technique for moving swiftly and lightly] was superb.

If a woman was using 경공 near Haan Palace, she had to be Yang Guibin’s maid and a Changryongmun warrior.

He only confirmed that she lightly crossed the wall of the Imperial Palace. He wanted to follow her to the end, but he couldn’t neglect his duty to protect the Imperial family.

Jang Cheong-un waited for her to return to that spot.

#

“It’s a girl.”

Cheong-yeon, panting, couldn’t lift her head, as if she were a sinner who had given birth to a daughter.

It seemed the heavens were only offering half their assistance.

Jo Gwang-yun’s luck was that only one of the brought-in mothers had given birth to a son at the right time.

Now, he had to make up for the remaining half with what he had prepared.

Jo Gwang-yun looked back at Gu-seung and said.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

He laid the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes in a small basket.

Tension was palpable in Gu-seung’s expression.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you this nervous.”

Jo Gwang-yun smiled to ease the tension, but Gu-seung’s face remained stiff.

“I’d rather cut off the Emperor’s head. That would be more comfortable.”

“Give it to me.”

Jo Gwang-yun stretched out his hand, and Gu-seung’s eyes widened.

“Yes?”

“I’ll do it.”

“But, Jangju-nim [Jangju-nim – Lord]!”

“If someone in the palace happens to run into you, you’re a rebel who has invaded the Imperial Palace, but I’m not. Give it to me. It’s safer for me to move myself.”

Gu-seung still hesitated. One reason was that he didn’t want to entrust such a dangerous task to his lord, but another worry came first.

Jo Gwang-yun read Gu-seung’s worries.

“Do you think my martial arts skills are inferior to yours? Do you think my 경공 is inferior to yours?”

Gu-seung’s face flushed as his inner thoughts were exposed.

“I may have been more negligent in training than you, but don’t you know that my aptitude is different? There’s a reason why Grand Master 콕 찝은 [kok jjibeun – specifically pointed out] me. Your martial arts skills still have a long way to go before they catch up to mine. Give it to me. There’s no time.”

Gu-seung just stared blankly at Jo Gwang-yun’s face, as if he couldn’t believe the words he was hearing.

Jo Gwang-yun snatched the basket from Gu-seung.

“Cheong-yeon, take a breather.”

Jo Gwang-yun held the basket tightly and left the house.

#

Jo Gwang-yun focused his senses on the wall of the Imperial Palace.

There was no one around.

He lightly crossed the outer wall and ran in a straight line. Since there were no guards, he sped up without worry. He had to complete this task as quickly as possible.

‘Huh?’

He felt a presence. Someone was watching.

He had to make a quick decision.

Should he pretend to be Jo Jubu, who was leisurely walking to see his sister, or should he kill the observer in one swift move and retrieve the body later?

There was another problem.

His appearance had been exposed, and the observer was concealed.

But a telepathic message dispelled his worries.

– Jo Daein [Daein – a respectful title]. What on earth is going on right now?

Jang Cheong-un appeared on the inner wall of Haan Palace.

He was relieved, but also in a hurry. He didn’t have time for conversation right now.

– Didn’t I order you to completely empty this place? That includes you. Disappear immediately.

– Jo Daein….

– Shut up and disappear. If you say one more word, I will erase the fact that you are the master’s son from my mind. Quickly!

He threatened, but Jang Cheong-un still hesitated, so he spoke calmly again.

– I will explain everything that happened today in detail later. However, there is no time now because this is a matter of urgency. My patience is limited. Hurry!

A low groan was heard, and Jang Cheong-un’s figure vanished into the sky.

After confirming his departure, Jo Gwang-yun leaped over the outer wall of Haan Palace.

#

When he entered the residence, he expected to smell blood, but instead, a pleasant fragrance filled the air.

The incense (香草) [xiāng cǎo – fragrant herbs] burning in the brazier masked the scent of blood. They were truly clever children. He decided he would give them a generous reward. He glanced at the bedroom and saw Yang Ryeo-cheong, her face haggard, lying on the blood-soaked silk bedding as if she had fainted.

Confirming that her eyes were open, Jo Gwang-yun said quietly.

“You’ve truly worked hard. Here is a handsome and sturdy prince. The hard part is over.”

When Jo Gwang-yun handed the basket to Hong-yeon, she hurriedly unwrapped the swaddling clothes. Now, they had to prepare for the staged childbirth.

– She is a remarkably strong child. She didn’t even utter a scream during childbirth.

Nodding in response to Hong-yeon’s telepathic message, he comforted Yang Ryeo-cheong.

“Thanks to you, we accomplished the task. Your contribution is the greatest.”

“You must make this child the Emperor. Otherwise, I will die with resentment.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong said, tears welling in her eyes.

“This is a child exchanged for countless lives. Even if I have to kill every member of the Imperial family, I will ensure this child ascends the throne.”

Yang Ryeo-cheong offered a faint smile at Jo Gwang-yun’s resolute words.

“What about the girl?”

Hong-yeon had already placed the baby girl in a basket.

– I couldn’t bring myself to kill her. I 잡았는데 her 혈 [jabanneunde her hyeol – suppressed her life force], but I don’t know if she’s still alive.

Jo Gwang-yun gently stroked Hong-yeon’s shoulder.

“It’s not over yet. Stay strong until the end.”

Jo Gwang-yun tucked the basket under his arm and disappeared like the wind.

Only the women remained.

Now, they had to create a convincing childbirth scene that would be heard throughout the Imperial Palace.

Hong-yeon rushed back to the Royal Physician’s Office.

This time, she didn’t summon the royal physicians discreetly, but rather created a commotion.

“Royal Physician! Royal Physician!”

The two royal physicians ran out at Hong-yeon’s cry.

“Ya… Yang Guibin….”

“What is it? Perhaps….”

When Hong-yeon nodded vigorously, the royal physician shouted loud enough to be heard in every corner of the Royal Physician’s Office.

“Tell the midwives to come quickly! It seems that Yang Guibin is about to give birth!”

The two royal physicians placed Hong-yeon in the lead and hurried towards Haan Palace.

When the royal physicians arrived at Haan Palace, the screams were already deafening.

In front of the palace, the eunuchs and court ladies, who had been enjoying a midday nap, wrung their hands, unsure of what to do. Yang Ryeo-cheong’s voice, giving birth in broad daylight and unleashing the screams she had been holding back, seemed to reverberate throughout the entire Imperial Palace.

“Aaaaaaack!”

< The Birth of a New Life 2 > End