I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 194

< Treason (5) >

The Empress knew she had to act fast. Ignoring even the Dowager Empress, she urgently issued an order.

“Summon the Seongwon Prince! Quickly, send someone to greet him.”

Wi Chung-hyeon also recognized the critical nature of the moment.

“Your Majesty,” he said, “Now that the Seongwon Prince has arrived, I humbly suggest we postpone further discussions until after his audience. Perhaps we should adjourn this session and take a recess?”

He needed to halt the proceedings immediately. His priority was to get the Dowager Empress back to her residence and confine her, even if it meant using force. To seize control, he had to isolate the Dowager Empress and then reconvene with the central officials, with the Empress at the helm.

The Empress, growing impatient, scolded the captain of the guard, who still hesitated.

“What are you waiting for? I ordered you to escort the Seongwon Prince!”

“That is… I regret to report that the Seongwon Prince is leading hundreds of private soldiers… He is currently outside the capital gates, requesting they be opened.”

The ministers’ faces turned grim at the mention of private soldiers. With the Emperor dead, his younger brother had appeared with an armed retinue. What was the meaning of this?

The Dowager Empress appeared blank, almost in a daze.

To onlookers, she seemed lost, but in reality, she was recalling Jo Gwang-yun’s letter.

The letter had contained a clear prediction: the Seongwon Prince would arrive with private soldiers.

And it had provided detailed instructions on how to respond.

How could his predictions be so accurate?

The Dowager Empress sharply addressed the captain of the guard.

“Captain of the Guard! How many soldiers are there?”

“It appears to be over two hundred.”

“Two hundred? Are you certain?”

The Dowager Empress spoke loudly, ensuring the murmuring ministers could hear.

“If there are more than two hundred private soldiers, this is no mere escort. What outrageous behavior is this! To dare bring soldiers into the Imperial Palace!”

The court officials, hearing the Dowager Empress’s indignant words, reacted with outrage, rising from their seats.

“Captain of the Guard! Immediately lead all guard units and arrest the Seongwon Prince. Anyone who resists is to be killed!”

“Understood!”

The captain of the guard hurried out without further hesitation.

She had done it.

The Dowager Empress struggled to calm her racing heart. She had ordered the use of force, not just a verbal confrontation. And everyone had accepted the order without question.

No one had objected. All the ministers acknowledged her authority as the highest elder in the absence of the Emperor, acting as his proxy. The Dowager Empress once again recalled Jo Gwang-yun’s advice.

『Your Majesty, do not be afraid. The dignity and authority befitting your position depend on your actions. Place the Empress, the concubines, and the ministers beneath you. Depending on your actions, they will either be at your feet or above your head.』

The Dowager Empress now looked down at the powerful figures before her. Her gaze met those of Wi Chung-hyeon and the Empress, who were pale with fear.

Wi Chung-hyeon and the Empress were the most bewildered by the Dowager Empress’s sudden command.

They hadn’t had a chance to speak as the situation spiraled out of control, and their plan to confine the Dowager Empress to her residence had been completely thwarted.

A flustered Wi Chung-hyeon even stammered.

“Y-Your Majesty, why issue an arrest order? The Seongwon Prince is…”

“Do you think I don’t know who the Seongwon Prince is? I know him very well.”

The Dowager Empress cut him off, reigniting the embers of suspicion surrounding the Emperor’s death.

“The Emperor was poisoned. And today, the Seongwon Prince appears with private soldiers. Is that not a remarkable coincidence?”

She fixed Wi Chung-hyeon and the Empress with a piercing stare.

“Furthermore, the Seongwon Prince was performing his duties on the frontier. Who can explain how this remarkable event was not premeditated?”

Silence fell over the hall.

Wasn’t the younger brother’s arrival so soon after the elder brother’s death a blatant assertion of his claim to the throne?

The problem was that he couldn’t have arrived at such a precise moment without prior planning and conspiracy.

As even the Empress and Wi Chung-hyeon avoided her gaze, the Dowager Empress’s confidence grew.

Her gaze shifted back to Do Yeong-jeon.

“Minister Seo Ik, continue your report. So? What were the findings of the investigation into the salt field development rights?”

The conflict surrounding Do Yeong-jeon faded into the background due to the appearance of the Seongwon Prince and the Dowager Empress’s swift and decisive actions.

“Yes, Your Majesty. We have confirmed that Chief Jo handled the matter fairly, without any impropriety or suspicion. He is truly an exemplary official.”

“And? What did the Emperor say?”

“He praised him as meticulous and upright and expressed regret that he was resigning from his post.”

After speaking, Do Yeong-jeon subtly observed Wi Chung-hyeon and the Empress’s reactions. They were pale and trembling.

It was a pathetic sight. To rely on someone else’s word for such a significant matter. Do Yeong-jeon felt relieved that he had made the right choice.

At that moment, Yun Ju-seong stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, I have something to report.”

“Speak.”

“Minister Seo Ik’s words are true.”

“How so?”

“The Vice Minister had a private audience with His Majesty, and I recorded everything that was said at that time. His Majesty said this.”

Yun Ju-seong looked directly at Wi Chung-hyeon and continued.

“He said that he would choose a wise man, not necessarily the eldest son, as the Crown Prince, and that he was impressed that Chief Jo Gwang-yun, a mere merchant, said he would not enter the Imperial Palace to avoid the public perception that he was benefiting from his niece. Isn’t that right, Vice Minister?”

Wi Chung-hyeon remained silent, biting his lip.

He couldn’t deny it. The conversation from that day had been recorded.

The Dowager Empress pressed the speechless Wi Chung-hyeon.

“Vice Minister. Are the Chief State Councilor’s words true?”

“Y-Yes, they are.”

The Dowager Empress tilted her head, feigning confusion.

“He praised him to his face and issued an assassination order behind his back? That is truly difficult to understand.”

The Dowager Empress’s gaze returned to Do Yeong-jeon.

“Minister Seo Ik.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Did the Emperor truly issue an assassination order for Chief Jo?”

“How could that be? Rather, he regretted that such a bright person as Chief Jo was only focusing on business. The assassination order is news to me.”

Wi Chung-hyeon, who had been listening intently, finally exploded.

“Do Yeong-jeon! You bastard! How dare you speak such lies? When I confirmed the facts with you before, didn’t you say that His Majesty had issued an assassination order for him?”

“Did I? I don’t recall that.”

“What? Have you ever seen such an impudent person? Where are you spouting these lies?”

“Vice Minister. Watch your words. Lies, you say!”

Do Yeong-jeon calmly replied.

“It is natural to be wary of in-laws. It is true that His Majesty was wary of Chief Jo Gwang-yun, but if we’re going to talk about who he was most wary of, wouldn’t that be the Vice Minister? Chief Jo resigned from his post voluntarily, but the Vice Minister was demoted at His Majesty’s command.”

“Wh-What…?”

“And the Western Investigation Unit is an investigative agency. It is not a place to assassinate innocent people simply because someone is wary of them. Are you suggesting that His Majesty disregarded the national laws and ordered an assassination?”

Wi Chung-hyeon felt as if Do Yeong-jeon’s piercing gaze was stabbing his heart like a dagger.

* * *

“The Seongwon Prince must be arrested, and the rest can be beheaded. He is said to be riding in a large palanquin, so it won’t be difficult to find him.”

The guards were finally able to demonstrate the results of their rigorous training. It was unsettling that the target was a member of the Imperial family, but…

“Listen carefully. This is not a training exercise. It is related to treason. There must be no mistakes. Do you understand?”

“Understood!”

A resounding shout echoed through the Imperial Palace.

“And Jang Cheong-un.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t get caught up in skirmishes with the rabble soldiers. Just focus on arresting the Seongwon Prince.”

“Understood.”

Jang Cheong-un tightened his grip on his spear.

###

When the guard on the ramparts fired the first arrow, Jang Cheong-un could hardly believe his eyes.

The Seongwon Prince’s soldiers, who had appeared so formidable, began to scatter with just a few arrows.

The guards firing the arrows were equally bewildered and stopped shooting.

Jang Cheong-un spotted the large palanquin in the distance and surged forward.

As he ran like the wind, beheading a few who dared to stand in his way, he sensed that something was amiss. How could they be so weak? They were just strongmen hired from the marketplace, not trained soldiers.

Jang Cheong-un ignored the fleeing soldiers and charged towards the palanquin in the distance. The closer he got, the more peculiar the situation became. The soldiers guarding the palanquin ran away without looking back, as if clearing a path for Jang Cheong-un, and the palanquin remained motionless.

The palanquin was now directly in front of him, yet he sensed no movement within.

Jang Cheong-un mustered his strength and swung his spear, tearing the roof off the palanquin.

“W-What… !”

Jang Cheong-un was speechless, utterly disbelieving of what he saw.

The ornately decorated palanquin was completely empty.

Had he already escaped?

Was the Seongwon Prince merely putting on a show, just like his supposed soldiers?

Was his plan to enter the Imperial Palace bloodlessly, relying on his status as a prince, and seize control of the Imperial family with a mere two hundred men?

Jang Cheong-un’s eyes narrowed as he searched the palanquin.

He discovered a letter that had fallen beneath a silk cushion on the floor.

Jang Cheong-un quickly unfolded the letter.

The contents of the letter revealed the reason behind the Seongwon Prince’s reckless actions.

Jang Cheong-un pocketed the letter and raced back towards the Imperial Palace.

* * *

Jo Gwang-yun, having received an urgent message to enter the palace, changed into his official robes. The summons indicated that the Dowager Empress was managing the situation effectively.

He didn’t rush. There was still something he needed to confirm.

“I’m back, Head.”

One of his men, panting heavily, bowed his head.

“The letter?”

“I confirmed that an Imperial Palace military officer retrieved it. But his martial arts skills were exceptional. If I had been a little slower, I would have been in serious trouble.”

Was it Jang Cheong-un?

“What about the mercenaries’ losses?”

“Some were killed, and some were captured, but most managed to escape.”

Those who were captured wouldn’t reveal anything useful. They were simply mercenaries showing off their strength in exchange for money.

“You’ve worked hard. Have a drink and get some rest.”

“Thank you, Head.”

As his subordinate departed, Jo Gwang-yun hurried towards the Imperial Palace.

The eunuch, who had been awaiting his arrival, greeted Jo Gwang-yun.

“Please come in quickly. All the central officials are gathered in the main hall.”

“But… what on earth is happening that everyone is gathered at this hour?”

“You will find out when you reach the main hall.”

When Jo Gwang-yun asked with a puzzled expression, the eunuch avoided his gaze, appearing troubled.

As soon as Jo Gwang-yun entered the main hall, he prostrated himself.

“Your Majesty the Emperor, long live, long live, long long live!”

He knew that the Dowager Empress was currently on the throne, but he maintained the customary formalities.

The Dowager Empress spoke.

“Are you the brother of Royal Concubine Yang?”

Jo Gwang-yun raised his head slightly, blinking his eyes once, and the eunuch standing next to him quietly whispered.

“It is the Dowager Empress.”

Jo Gwang-yun bowed his head again, making a slightly exaggerated gesture.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am Jo Gwang-yun.”

“Do you know why you were suddenly summoned to the palace?”

“I am ignorant and do not yet know the reason.”

The Dowager Empress wore a sorrowful expression, while Wi Chung-hyeon and the Empress glared at Jo Gwang-yun’s blatant lies.

Wasn’t he an accomplice in all of this?

But they couldn’t reveal this fact, and even if they did, no one would believe them.

The Dowager Empress gestured to the chief eunuch standing beside her, who sighed and began to speak.

“Chief Jo. Royal Concubine Yang has suffered an accident… She is no longer with us.”

Jo Gwang-yun rose to his feet, his face stiff with shock.

< Treason (5) > End