I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 191

The Chief Eunuch always waited until the Emperor went to bed. Once the Emperor was asleep, he would return to his quarters or enjoy his personal time.

One of the reasons Consort Yang was favored over the other concubines was that the Emperor retired early, allowing the Chief Eunuch to enjoy more personal time.

That night, judging by the hour, the Emperor was about to retire when a sudden, tearing sound echoed.

“W-What is that…!”.

A woman’s scream coming from the Imperial Palace? Such a thing was utterly disrespectful.

And wasn’t that sound coming from within Haan Palace?

The Chief Eunuch rushed inside faster than anyone else.

A toppled dining table, the Emperor and Consort Yang collapsed on the floor amidst broken dishes and cups.

An incident had occurred.

The Chief Eunuch’s vision swam.

“T-Taeui [Royal Physician]… quickly… Call the Head Physician…!”

As the Chief Eunuch managed to shout, Ja-yeon ran outside as if she had been waiting for the command.

“M-Master… Chief Eunuch… What should we do…?”

Seeing Hong-yeon trembling all over, the Chief Eunuch regained his senses.

“You foolish girl! Can’t you pull yourself together? Quickly, go out and summon the guards. Haan Palace must be sealed off.”

Hong-yeon was truly grateful that the Chief Eunuch gave her a direct order.

Coming outside, Hong-yeon shouted at the eunuchs and palace maids loitering at the entrance.

“Quickly, summon the Imperial Guards! Haan Palace must be sealed off so that not even a rat can get in or out.”

One of the eunuchs ran off, and Hong-yeon blocked the entrance.

Everyone was curious about what had happened inside the palace, but no one dared to speak with her fierce demeanor.

Soon after, the Imperial Guards entered Haan Palace with thundering footsteps.

The Chief Eunuch, hearing their approach, rushed out, and the Captain stepped forward.

The Chief Eunuch addressed him.

“Secure the Imperial Palace thoroughly! This is a matter of the nation’s fate.”

The words ‘nation’s fate’ coming from the Emperor’s right-hand man carried immense weight. The Captain fully understood their meaning.

With a pale face, he shouted.

“Everyone, retreat outside Haan Palace immediately!”.

At the Captain’s command, the eunuchs and palace maids hurriedly left the palace.

The Captain shouted again to the guards.

“First Squad, guard Haan Palace. Control everyone’s entry and exit.”

“Yes, sir!”.

“Second Squad, immediately inform all guards that this is an emergency situation.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dozens of guards rushed off.

As the Captain gave breathless orders and the guards moved busily, the Head Physician, led by Ja-yeon, arrived panting.

The Chief Eunuch, spotting him, gestured urgently.

“Hurry inside!”.

As the Head Physician entered the residence, the sound of bells began to ring loudly throughout the Imperial Palace, signaling a grave event.

* * *

“Your Majesty, the Queen Dowager, Your Majesty!”.

The Queen Dowager, who had been resting in her chamber, rose at the frantic call of her maid.

“What is all this commotion?”.

“T-That… well…”

Before the maid could speak, Ja-yeon followed her into the Queen Dowager’s chamber.

“Your Majesty, please save me.”

Ja-yeon knelt down, holding a child.

“You…? Are you from Haan Palace…?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. A terrible thing has happened.”

At the word ‘terrible,’ Jo Gwang-yun’s letter flashed in the Queen Dowager’s mind.

The Emperor is dead.

The Queen Dowager said to the gathered servants.

“Everyone, step back. Furthermore, no one is to leave this place, nor utter a word carelessly.”

As everyone vacated at the Queen Dowager’s stern order, the Queen Dowager took the child.

“Is this the Second Prince?”.

“Yes, it is.”

“By terrible, you must mean His Majesty and Consort Yang, correct?”.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ja-yeon was surprised by the Queen Dowager’s calm demeanor despite the news of the Emperor’s incident, but she remembered that Jo Gwang-yun had taken care of everything behind the scenes.

Just how much had he prepared?

She would find out the full extent of his planning when this was all over.

The Queen Dowager called out.

“Eunuch! Is there an eunuch here?”.

One of the eunuchs rushed over.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Did you call?”.

“Go to the main hall immediately.”

“You mean Euihwa Hall [Hall for audiences and ceremonies]?”.

“You fool. Is there any other main hall besides Euihwa Hall?”.

He only asked because he didn’t understand the meaning of going to the main hall in the middle of the night. And hadn’t she avoided contact with the court until now?

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

There was no time to scold him. The Queen Dowager immediately issued a secret order.

“Run to Euihwa Hall immediately and observe the situation. The court officials will probably all be gathered. And the Empress will surely appear there as well. Once you confirm that everyone is gathered, return immediately and report.”

“I will carry out your orders.”

As the eunuch retreated, the Queen Dowager stroked the sleeping child.

This child is the source of power.

###

The Empress, unable to hide her anxiety, paced back and forth, wondering if news of the Emperor’s incident would arrive. She began to dress hastily when she suddenly heard the loud ringing of bells.

She was about to go to the main hall to demonstrate that the Emperor was dead and that she was the living power.

“Is there an eunuch outside?”.

As two eunuchs entered, the Empress said.

“You, immediately check what incident has occurred outside and report back. And you, summon all the duty officers from each department. Do not miss a single one.”

“I will carry out your orders.”

As the eunuchs retreated, the Empress continued to dress.

###

The Head Physician, looking around the chaotic residence, closed his eyes tightly as he saw the collapsed Emperor and Consort Yang.

It was not because the sight was gruesome, but to organize his thoughts.

It was certain that the two people lying as if asleep were no longer of this world.

The Imperial Palace without an Emperor, an empty throne.

The Imperial Family is a world of women until the day the next owner of the throne is decided.

Jo Gwang-yun’s suggestion, to choose the Queen Dowager over the Empress, remained in his mind.

The Head Physician, conscious of the Chief Eunuch’s gaze, quickly examined the two collapsed people, checking their condition.

As expected, their pulses were gone, and their breathing had stopped.

“Chief Eunuch.”

“Yes.”

The Head Physician shook his head slightly.

The Chief Eunuch covered his mouth with his hand as if trying to hold back the tears that threatened to burst out. Now, thinking about the aftermath was more important than grief. He had already experienced the Emperor’s death several times.

The Emperor’s death is not just one death, but a signal announcing countless deaths to follow.

The Head Physician, watching the Chief Eunuch’s expression, said.

“Are you going to announce this fact?”.

“No. Not yet… Shouldn’t we find out the exact cause of death first?”.

“I think so too. Then, shall I send someone to the Royal Medical Office to summon all the physicians? There are many things to take care of. And please call Lord Hwang-hyo, the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department. If it is a homicide rather than a simple sudden death, we must act according to his instructions.”

“I will do that. Please wait a moment.”

As the Chief Eunuch was about to leave, the Head Physician hurriedly said.

“Ah, the one who first discovered this fact…”.

“It’s Consort Yang’s maids.”

“Then, could you call that child as well?”.

The Chief Eunuch nodded and went outside.

Soon after, Hong-yeon entered, and the Head Physician pointed to the residence and asked.

“Did you discover it first?”.

“Yes, I did.”

“How? You wouldn’t have been going in and out carelessly.”

“His Majesty and Consort were having a pleasant conversation when suddenly I heard a commotion and rushed in.”

“Then you must have been watching continuously from the time His Majesty arrived here until he collapsed?”.

“Yes, sir.”

“Was there anything strange?”.

Asking about suspicious points right away?

Hong-yeon thought that the Head Physician might also be someone influenced by Jo Gwang-yun. Since it was the question she had been waiting for, she answered without delay.

“There was a court lady who seemed unusually nervous, unlike usual.”

“Really?”.

The Head Physician’s eyes sparkled.

“Who is it? That person?”.

“It was a court lady bringing the wine bottle. She is an older woman who has been in the Imperial Palace for a long time, but her fingertips were trembling so much today.”

“How do you know that? Were you watching her continuously?”.

“The wine bottle on the tray was clattering so loudly that it caught my attention.”

“Hmm…”.

As soon as Hong-yeon finished speaking, the Head Physician immediately secured the wine bottle and glass. He was confident that he could find poison in the wine bottle.

“Anything else?”.

“I don’t remember anything in particular.”

“Alright, you may leave. And remember, always be careful with your words. Don’t talk about today’s events anywhere.”

“I will keep that in mind, sir.”

The Head Physician immediately sought out the Chief Eunuch. When he told him what Hong-yeon had said earlier, the Chief Eunuch’s eyes sparkled.

“Head Physician, could it be that you…?”

“It’s hard to say anything for sure. However, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to arrest that woman just in case.”

“I understand. I will have her imprisoned immediately. The aftermath can be left to the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department.”

The Chief Eunuch called the guards guarding Haan Palace and gave them secret instructions.

Just in time, half a dozen physicians rushed in.

“Head Physician, what’s going on…?”

They also heard the loud ringing of bells. They were curious about what was going on, but they were anxious about the call from Haan Palace.

“Everyone, come in. This is an urgent matter, so we must be extremely careful.”

The physicians cautiously entered the scene.

* * *

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened.”

The palace maid who had gone out to investigate what was happening returned to the Empress, her face pale.

“S-Something terrible has happened. It seems that a great incident has occurred at Haan Palace.”

“An incident?”.

The Empress also pretended to be surprised.

“The Imperial Guards have surrounded Haan Palace, and I couldn’t get in… It is said that many physicians have rushed there.”

The words she wanted to hear had not yet come out. The words that the Emperor was dead.

“Is that all? You still don’t know what kind of incident it is?”.

“I have only heard that there was a great commotion.”

“Then what about the Chief Eunuch? Since His Majesty has arrived, the Chief Eunuch must be there too, right?”.

“That must be the case.”

“Then go again and bring the Chief Eunuch. Tell him that if he utters nonsense, I will personally rush to Haan Palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Empress suppressed her impatience and waited.

The Emperor was certainly dead. So she had to seize control of the court.

Soon after, the dozen or so officials she had been waiting for rushed in.

They were the duty officers from each department.

“Your Majesty, did you call?”.

The Empress spoke to them in a dignified and firm voice.

“Everyone is well aware that a great incident has occurred in the Imperial Family.”

“Your Majesty, could you tell us what that incident is?”.

Someone asked cautiously.

“No one knows the exact details yet. But we must prepare for the incident, so urgently inform the court officials. Tell them to enter the palace immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We will obey your command.”

It was a truly busy night. But time flowed slowly.

Just as she was getting annoyed at why the maid who had rushed to Haan Palace was not returning quickly, the palace maid came in again, making a fuss.

“Your Majesty. A great matter!”.

“I already know that something terrible has happened. Why did you come alone? Where is the Chief Eunuch?”.

“T-That is…”.

“I will punish you all right now…!” .

As the Empress stood up as if she would rush to Haan Palace right away, the palace maid quickly spoke.

“Your Majesty. Please wait a moment. Lord Hwang-hyo, the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department, has now entered Haan Palace. The Chief Eunuch said that he would rush to Your Majesty as soon as that matter is over.”

“The Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department? Hwang-hyo, you say?”.

“Yes, that is correct.”

The Empress felt like bursting into laughter.

This must be to arrest that bitch Yang Ryeo-cheong. Everything is proceeding according to plan.

Now, if she puts her son forward and makes the court officials prostrate themselves at her feet, she will hold the power of this country in one hand.

She wanted to rush to the main hall and sit on the throne as soon as possible.

But the Empress’s sweet dream did not last long.

End