I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 192

< Conspiracy 3 >

As the court officials began to enter the palace one by one, the Empress completed her preparations to go to the main hall.

However, before making her entrance, she needed to be certain the Emperor was truly dead. If he were not to die instantly but lingered, discussing the succession prematurely would only arouse suspicion.

She waited anxiously for the head eunuch. When he finally appeared at Jeonghwa Palace, the Empress’s residence, she suppressed her eagerness to confirm the Emperor’s condition and instead rebuked him sharply,

“Head Eunuch! What has happened that you disregard me so? Am I not even worthy of your notice?”

The head eunuch bowed deeply at the Empress’s reprimand, his voice thick with emotion. “Your Majesty… the Emperor… His Majesty has passed away.”

“What… What did you say?”

At that moment, the head eunuch, still bowed, raised his eyes fleetingly to gauge the Empress’s reaction.

The Emperor and the Noble Consort, the Emperor’s favorite, had both died suddenly. Though he hesitated to voice it, the Empress was the immediate and obvious suspect.

The Empress’s surprised expression seemed genuine, but the head eunuch scrutinized her carefully, noting her complexion.

Widened eyes, a slightly agape mouth.

These could be easily faked, but not the color of one’s face.

When he had first seen the collapsed Emperor, he felt as if all the blood had drained from his own face. He imagined he must have turned as white as a sheet.

However, the Empress’s complexion remained unchanged. Only the slight flush she had displayed from the beginning persisted.

The head eunuch delivered the second piece of news. “And Noble Consort Yang, who was with him, has also passed away.”

Now, the head eunuch looked directly at the Empress.

*That* was the expression.

The expression that surfaced upon hearing of Noble Consort Yang’s death was the one that should have accompanied the news of the Emperor’s demise.

A bloodless face, trembling lips, and shaking fingertips.

The Empress had been certain of the Emperor’s death, but she had clearly not anticipated Noble Consort Yang’s death at all.

The head eunuch waited for the Empress to speak. What would her first words be?

“As Empress, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Be aware of that, and step back.”

The head eunuch bowed and retreated.

In the end, she did not ask the cause of death.

Because one does not ask again what one already knows.

The head eunuch was now convinced that the Empress had murdered the Emperor. Of course, he would never voice such a thought.

* * *

“Your Majesty, word has arrived that most of the high-ranking officials have gathered in the main hall.”

The Empress steeled her resolve.

With the Emperor gone, the weight of the imperial family now rested squarely on her shoulders.

She had to bear that immense weight and project an image of power. The Emperor’s assassin had to be Yang Ryeo-cheong. She had to ensure that narrative took hold.

The Empress boarded the palanquin to go to the main hall, cradling her sleeping son in her arms.

The expressions of the officials gathered in the main hall were grim. The heightened security of the Imperial Guard upon entering the palace, the anxious whispers of the court ladies and eunuchs throughout the palace – none of them had slept.

Thanks to their informants within the palace, they already knew the Emperor had met with an accident at Haan Palace.

There were as many as four men who could potentially ascend to the throne.

The Emperor’s two older brothers and his young sons.

Everyone’s fate hung in the balance, dependent on who ultimately claimed the throne. But at this moment, the Empress’s son seemed to be the closest to achieving that position.

They glanced subtly at Wi Chung-hyeon.

If the Emperor was dead, Wi Chung-hyeon’s career would be resurrected. Not merely to his previous position, but to that of the highest minister, wielding far greater power and influence.

Everyone was carefully observing the situation.

“The Empress is entering!”

At the eunuch’s announcement, the officials arranged themselves in lines. They bowed their heads, but their eyes flickered upward to catch a glimpse of the Empress.

She was even holding the First Imperial Prince in her arms.

As if to flaunt her son’s claim as the sole heir to the throne, the Empress ascended the throne without hesitation.

Some officials visibly strained, veins bulging on their foreheads, but they gritted their teeth and endured the perceived breach of etiquette. This was not the time for such arguments.

“I have summoned you here due to an urgent matter concerning the imperial family. I trust you will understand the circumstances.”

“We are honored, Your Majesty.”

Everyone listened intently, eager to hear what the Empress would say.

“A short while ago, His Majesty…”

The Empress attempted to project the image of a woman grieving the loss of her husband.

“His Majesty… has passed away.”

A collective sob swept through the hall as the officials prostrated themselves on the floor.

The Empress did not allow them time to dwell on their grief. She intended to take control before their thoughts could coalesce.

“His Majesty suffered an accident at Haan Palace. Therefore… Chief Secretary.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Wi Chung-hyeon responded from his prostrate position.

“Immediately arrest all the court ladies and eunuchs in Haan Palace and imprison them.”

“I will carry out your orders.”

As Wi Chung-hyeon began to rise, Yun Ju-seong stood up first and spoke. “Your Majesty, I hesitate to speak, but isn’t Haan Palace the residence of Noble Consort Yang?”

The Empress frowned. If that troublemaker questioned her, matters would become complicated.

“Minister of the Chancellery, we must address the urgent matters at hand…”

But Yun Ju-seong persisted. “Is Noble Consort Yang safe?”

The Empress hesitated, avoiding a direct answer.

If she claimed the Noble Consort was safe, she would then have to order Yang Ryeo-cheong’s arrest as well. But she couldn’t fabricate a lie when the truth would soon emerge. The head eunuch would be arriving in the main hall shortly.

It was best to avoid lies that would be exposed so quickly.

“Noble Consort Yang also suffered an accident…”

The main hall erupted in murmurs once more.

The fact that two people had died simultaneously seemed unnatural. Though no one voiced it aloud, the thought of murder was on everyone’s mind.

Yun Ju-seong, still prostrating, spoke with bloodshot eyes. “Your Majesty, arresting those of low status can be done at any time. I believe the priority now is to accurately determine the cause of death of His Majesty, who was in good health, and Noble Consort Yang, who was full of life.”

Before the Empress could respond, Yun Ju-seong called out towards the entrance of the main hall. “Summon the head eunuch immediately! And find the royal physician who can accurately confirm the details of today’s accident! Quickly!”

Wi Chung-hyeon, sensing the shift in power, spoke on behalf of the Empress. “Minister of the Chancellery! How dare you act so presumptuously before the Empress! Are you suggesting that you do not recognize Her Majesty’s authority!”

There was no greater crime for a subject than disloyalty, and acting disrespectfully before the Empress was a form of disloyalty.

“My thoughts align with those of the Minister of the Chancellery. We must first ascertain the exact facts before discussing the appropriate course of action for the court.” Even Maeng-ul, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward.

Maeng-ul’s statement went even further than Yun Ju-seong’s. Was he implying that the court, not the Empress, should decide the course of action?

The Empress’s eyes narrowed.

How dare these…!

But the Empress was unable to voice her displeasure. The entrance to the main hall became noisy, and the head eunuch appeared.

“Your Majesty, please forgive my delay. I have kept Your Majesty waiting.” The head eunuch, prostrating himself in the center of the main hall, spoke through his tears.

Yun Ju-seong immediately questioned him. “Head Eunuch, did His Majesty truly pass away?”

“It is a tragic event. Both His Majesty and Noble Consort Yang passed away without warning.”

“Passed away? What was the cause of death?” At Yun Ju-seong’s urgent inquiry, the head eunuch answered cautiously. “The cause of death requires further confirmation, but the Supreme Physician suspects poisoning. He is currently investigating the food with Royal Investigator Hwang-hyo.”

From the moment the word “poisoning” left the head eunuch’s mouth, the main hall descended into chaos.

The Emperor’s death had now transformed into a matter of treason.

The Empress felt a growing sense of panic, a fear of losing control.

She had to regain command of the situation and assert her authority.

“Everyone, silence! How can those who are supposed to be court officials behave so recklessly? That is precisely why I have instructed you! We must arrest all the men and women in Noble Consort Yang’s residence as quickly as possible and interrogate them.” The Empress shouted, her voice echoing through the main hall.

“Seize those men and women immediately.”

But Yun Ju-seong and Maeng-ul refused to yield.

“Empress, Noble Consort Yang was also poisoned. How can you order the interrogation of her court ladies? I believe it is more appropriate to interrogate the court ladies of the Royal Kitchen who prepared the royal meals first.”

The Empress lashed out at Yun Ju-seong, who had dared to challenge her. “You fool! The court ladies in Noble Consort Yang’s residence are the ones who could most easily administer the poison. How can you not suspect them?”

Maeng-ul supported Yun Ju-seong. “Your Majesty, the court ladies in Noble Consort Yang’s residence have no motive to poison His Majesty. Please enlighten us, your ignorant subjects, as to why you are pursuing this course of action.”

The Empress realized she had to play the card she had been saving, even though it was premature. Otherwise, their suspicions would only deepen.

“I am doing this because I have already received certain information. Are you suggesting that you are unaware of it?”

Yun Ju-seong and Maeng-ul exchanged uneasy glances. Information that the court officials were not privy to?

What hidden matter lay beneath the surface?

Yun Ju-seong quickly spoke. “Your Majesty, please enlighten this ignorant subject who cannot even begin to fathom Your Majesty’s grand intentions.”

“That is…”

The Empress was about to respond with an arrogant expression, but she suddenly froze.

Her gaze was fixed on the entrance of the main hall, where an unexpected figure had appeared.

A loud announcement from a eunuch echoed through the hall. “The Grand Queen Dowager is entering!”

All eyes turned towards the entrance.

The Grand Queen Dowager, who had been marginalized by the Emperor and the women of the imperial family, her very existence seemingly forgotten, entered the main hall with a confident stride. She did not acknowledge anyone to her left or right, walking directly to the Empress.

“Empress! What act of disloyalty is this?”

The Empress was speechless, unable to believe the Grand Queen Dowager’s sudden appearance.

“Can you not hear me?”

“Yes…?”

“How dare you sit there?”

The Grand Queen Dowager’s roar was deafening.

‘Why did this old woman suddenly appear here?’ The Empress was so bewildered she felt faint.

“Is that a place where the Empress dares to sit at this time? That seat is reserved for the most precious Emperor in this country, chosen by the heavens. Do you not know that?” The Grand Queen Dowager’s voice trembled slightly. This was the daughter-in-law who had neglected her for so long. She had to bring down this woman who thought herself superior, but fear still gripped her. She was still afraid of the Empress.

But the Grand Queen Dowager mustered all her strength and shouted. “You insolent woman! Why do you not rise immediately? It is already an act of treason to sit on the Emperor’s throne, but where did you learn such arrogance as to sit and look down on your mother-in-law while she stands?”

The Grand Queen Dowager’s voice echoed throughout the main hall.

“I apologize, Your Majesty.” Startled by the Grand Queen Dowager’s outburst, the Empress finally regained her composure.

This was not the Inner Court [the private quarters of the imperial family].

Women’s power struggles were confined to the Inner Court. The main hall was the center of the court, the most formal setting, where only hierarchy mattered.

And now, she was being watched.

The Empress quickly rose, bowed her head, descended from the throne, and stepped to the side of the main hall.

The Grand Queen Dowager ascended the throne and gestured to a eunuch.

A eunuch hurried forward with a chair and carefully placed it next to the throne. The Grand Queen Dowager sat down.

Looking down at the officials and even the Empress, she felt the weight of her position, the taste of power.

At that moment, the Grand Queen Dowager experienced the true meaning of power for the first time.

< Conspiracy 3 > End