I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 184

< Living with the Enemy 3 >

“So, you mean you’ll accept the position of Senior Secretary?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“Without a single minister objecting?”

“How dare anyone object to Your Majesty’s command? I will stop them.”

The Emperor was curious about the sincerity of Wi Chung-hyeon, who had given up everything and followed his will. He knew well that Wi was not the kind of person to yield so easily.

“I am impressed by Senior Secretary’s great decision. I will never forget it.”

Wi Chung-hyeon prostrated himself before the Emperor and exclaimed,

“Your Majesty’s grace is as vast as the sea.”

The Emperor smiled at the kneeling old minister and said,

“But there is one more thing I need Senior Secretary to do… Do you happen to know what it is?”

“I am too foolish to fathom your meaning. Please enlighten me.”

“I can withstand all the court officials rising up in opposition without batting an eye, but there is one loud voice I cannot handle. It is the Empress.”

The Emperor scratched his head slightly.

“I don’t want to see her running to Uirip Hall, wailing and weeping over this matter.”

The Emperor also disliked his wife’s nagging, especially from a strong-willed woman like the Empress, who often disregarded his authority.

“Your Majesty, I will appease the Empress. It is her brother’s affair, so her heart is heavy. Please do not blame her too much.”

“Blame? I am just scared. Hehe.”

“I am always afraid of the Empress as well.”

Wi Chung-hyeon smiled at the Emperor’s jest and left Uirip Hall.

As Wi Chung-hyeon disappeared, the Emperor turned to the Chief Eunuch and said,

“Summon the Chief Secretary immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As the Chief Eunuch retreated, the Emperor slumped into his chair, looking exhausted.

Fighting wits with his subjects was more tiring than handling state affairs.

Wi Chung-hyeon’s true intentions would soon be revealed.

The Empress, with her fierce temperament, would not remain silent just by persuading her brother.

She would surely come to Uirip Hall or Taicheon Palace, shouting not to mistreat her brother. She might even come to the main hall, Ui Hwa Hall, and yell at the ministers.

Wasn’t she a bold woman who would pressure the ministers, asking how they could only think of their own survival when her brother had taken care of them all this time?

If such an Empress remained silent, it meant Wi Chung-hyeon was not simply stepping down. He was only pretending to step down and was devising another plan, and the Empress knew that plan well. Perhaps they had even put their heads together to create the plan.

But Wi Chung-hyeon’s return was absolutely impossible.

In-laws always seized control of the imperial family, eroding the Emperor’s authority and taking away his power. It was not easy to regain that lost power.

The Emperor had grown up watching his late father struggle to regain the power that had been taken by in-laws. He was now following in his father’s footsteps, trying to reclaim that power.

To pass on a stable throne and authority to his son, who would succeed him.

Lost in complex thoughts, Chief Secretary Yun Ju-seong entered.

“Your Majesty, you were looking for me?”

“I will issue a decree.”

Yun Ju-seong hurriedly took up his brush.

“Senior Secretary Wi Chung-hyeon is appointed as Senior Secretary. Maeng-ul will be the tutor of the First Prince… and Consort Yang’s rank is raised to Noble Consort.”

The Emperor, having spoken only the essentials, said to Yun Ju-seong,

“You can add the embellishments to fit the format and announce it at the main hall today.”

Yun Ju-seong cautiously confirmed, with a hint of hope,

“Not Consort, but Noble Consort?”

“That’s right. Since I gained one thing, I must concede one small thing. They have their pride, too.”

“I obey your command.”

Yun Ju-seong completed the decree with a swift stroke and presented it to the Emperor. The Emperor glanced over it and nodded, then stamped it with the royal seal.

Holding the decree, Yun Ju-seong rushed to Ui Hwa Hall like the wind.

***

“Senior Secretary Wi Chung-hyeon and Vice Minister Maeng-ul, receive the decree.”

Wi Chung-hyeon and Maeng-ul slowly walked to the center of the main hall and knelt.

Yun Ju-seong unfolded the decree with a flourish.

“Senior Secretary Wi Chung-hyeon has loyally assisted the Emperor and sincerely served the Imperial Family. Furthermore, with unwavering devotion to the people… (omitted) Therefore, Wi Chung-hyeon is appointed as Senior Secretary.”

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”

Wi Chung-hyeon spoke in a very respectful tone, as if to show everyone that he had no complaints.

“Vice Minister Maeng-ul’s scholarship is profound… (omitted) Therefore, he is appointed as the Junior Tutor (少師) [a tutor who focuses on the fundamentals] of the First Prince. I would be pleased if the First Prince’s scholarship only reached the tip of your toes.”

The Emperor’s intention was contained in the words “Junior Tutor (少師).”

The purpose was not to teach profound scholarship but to examine whether he could fully digest profound scholarship and to teach him the attitude of studying.

“I will obey the command.”

Maeng-ul replied briefly.

Yun Ju-seong read the last decree.

“Consort Yang’s contribution to producing a prince is truly commendable. Therefore, to commend her contribution, Consort Yang’s rank is raised to Noble Consort. All officials, great and small, are expected to follow my will.”

Yun Ju-seong handed the decree to Wi Chung-hyeon and Maeng-ul and gave Consort Yang’s decree to the eunuch standing beside him.

The eunuch, holding the decree with both hands, rushed to Ha An Palace.

“His Majesty is attending to state affairs in Uirip Hall. You may all leave the court.”

With these words, Yun Ju-seong returned to Uirip Hall.

As Yun Ju-seong disappeared, the ministers began to buzz.

“No! This cannot be. Appointing Wi Dae-in as Senior Secretary? The Senior Secretary is merely a nominal position without any designated duties!”

“That’s right. To dismiss Wi Dae-in, who has devoted his life to the Emperor, in this way! This cannot be allowed. Let us all go to Uirip Hall and beseech His Majesty to withdraw the decree.”

Wi Chung-hyeon smiled at them and said,

“I am grateful for all your kind words… but please stop.”

“No, Wi Dae-in. How can you say such a thing… We cannot condone this…”

“I said stop! Can’t you understand what I mean?!”

Wi Chung-hyeon’s voice echoed throughout the main hall.

“If anyone runs to Uirip Hall for my sake and says even a word to His Majesty, I will not forgive them! Do you understand?”

Wi Chung-hyeon left the Ui Hwa Hall in great strides, leaving the bewildered ministers behind.

Returning home, Wi Chung-hyeon pondered over the words the Empress had left him with today.

She had spoken of a very dangerous but most certain way to put her son on the throne, and seizing control of the court at once was a bonus.

– Brother, for now, join hands with that Jo Gwang-yun. Hasn’t his brilliance already been proven? He will come up with the best plan. We can use that plan to succeed and then get rid of that Jo Gwang-yun.

If there was a guarantee of success, he really wanted to do it.

If he could kill Jo Gwang-yun, it would be more than just a bonus; it would be a bonanza.

Wouldn’t the Jo family without Jo Gwang-yun be a masterless lump of gold? It would be difficult to take it all, but even taking half would be a great gain.

It was the wealth of the richest man in the Central Plains, so it would be immense beyond measure.

The power to control the country and the wealth to buy the country.

He would not even envy Yeo Bu-wi [a powerful merchant and politician] of the Qin Dynasty.

But what if he failed?

Not only would his clan be killed, but even the Empress and the First Prince would disappear like dew before the execution ground.

He also thought that his young sister was truly ruthless.

They had shared the same blanket for several years, but she said that killing her husband was the best way! And she said it with a bright smile.

* * *

Jo Gwang-yun sat face to face with Wi Chung-hyeon again. This time, it was not at his house but at the club.

“Since I am in a situation of being hunted after the hunt, shouldn’t we have a drink? Haha.”

Wi Chung-hyeon smiled and handed him a glass of alcohol.

Jo Gwang-yun almost burst out laughing in disbelief.

Hunted after the hunt? He had never even hunted rabbits. Rather, he had been sitting still, enjoying the taste of rabbit meat, and living a life of luxury and comfort.

“I heard the news. You accepted the position of Senior Secretary?”

“What else could I do? His Majesty came out like that… Still, I received a more lenient punishment than you, so I am not that upset.”

“I also heard about me. What did you hear?”

“I gave up my official position, and you gave up your life… What do you think? Am I still better off?”

“Life…”

Wi Chung-hyeon looked a little surprised as Jo Gwang-yun drank the alcohol with a calm expression.

“You are not surprised? Did you know?”

“I guessed. If you want to eliminate the power of a merchant like me, you have to take all the money, but would His Majesty, who has a strong sense of pride, do that? To others, it would seem like taking the property of a normal citizen, and only corrupt officials do such things. His Majesty cannot act like a corrupt official, can he?”

“So, he takes your life?”

“If you find fault with me and ask for my crime, you can take my life. I expected it from the moment Seo-ik said he would turn me inside out.”

“So, the countermeasure you thought of was to kill your nephew?”

“If you have a better way, please let me know. I will listen carefully.”

“You, with your good head, should come up with a good plan.”

Jo Gwang-yun frowned.

“Did you call me to say something that is not worth saying? I already warned you, didn’t I? If my nephew is poisoned, the Empress will be in danger right away. Surely you understood that, didn’t you?”

“Instead of such ominous words, how about finding a more fundamental solution?”

Fundamental?

Jo Gwang-yun guessed the meaning of these words, but he knew that he should not bring up the words of treason first. The sound of harming the Emperor must come out of Wi Chung-hyeon’s mouth first.

“If there was a solution, I would have already solved it. That’s why I’m doing this.”

“No, think carefully. There must be a way for you and our family to live.”

“Please tell me, Dae-in [a respectful title]. It seems like you already have a good plan… Don’t you?”

Wi Chung-hyeon hesitated and opened his mouth.

“Didn’t you say that even a dog bites its owner when it’s desperate?”

“Owner…”

His guess was correct. But Jo Gwang-yun pretended not to know and feigned ignorance.

“Dae-in, you have something to turn His Majesty’s heart around. Do you have His Majesty’s fatal weakness in your hands?”

Wi Chung-hyeon looked disappointed as Jo Gwang-yun talked nonsense.

“Why are you doing this? Didn’t you and I say that we are the only relationship that can share any story frankly? Don’t you understand my intention yet?”

“I don’t understand.”

Wi Chung-hyeon sighed as he looked at Jo Gwang-yun’s firm expression. It was a sign that he would have to hear the impudent words directly.

“You said you could kill a nephew who is not related by blood, so wouldn’t you be able to kill a sister who is not related by blood as well?”

“You mean Consort Yang?”

“Yes.”

“Consort Yang wouldn’t be the fundamental problem, would she?”

“It’s a matter of how you kill her. If Consort Yang is poisoned, the problem will only get bigger, but if she becomes a criminal and is executed, wouldn’t all the problems disappear?”

“What crime would Consort Yang commit?”

“If she becomes a heinous criminal who assassinated His Majesty, wouldn’t execution be a perfectly natural thing, wouldn’t it?”

He finally said it.

Wi Chung-hyeon proposes to poison the Emperor and make Yang Ryeo-cheong the culprit.

< Living with the Enemy 3 > End