The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 337

The Minister of Revenue pressed his argument.

“Currently, the Shinma Merchant Guild is not only allied with the Hainan Sword Sect in the Western Regions but is also eliminating pirates in the South Sea to establish its own independent maritime trade route.”

It was impossible to fathom the immense wealth they were accumulating.

“Moreover, they are rapidly encroaching upon the central commercial world, spearheaded by the silk they have recently begun to supply exclusively to the Imperial family. Unlike in the past, when they had money but little control over commerce, they will soon dominate the Jungwon [Central Plains] commercial world at this rate. If that happens, I hardly need to tell you the consequences, do I?”

The greater the Shinma Merchant Guild’s influence, the smaller the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild’s foothold, which had traditionally dominated commerce.

The downfall of the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild, the financial backbone of the conservative faction, was a critical issue they couldn’t ignore.

“Well, since they will eventually become a threat as long as their goals differ from ours, it’s right to crush them when we have the chance,” someone responded.

The Minister of Revenue offered a knowing smile.

“Is it really necessary to go that far?”

At his next words, the eyes of those present gleamed with avarice.

“If we can replace the head of the Shinma Merchant Guild with someone on our side, their wealth will become a solid pillar supporting this court.”

Of course, in the process, it was essential to remove Neung So-mil, who held absolute power over the Shinma Merchant Guild.

The old dignitaries squirmed in their seats, tempted by the offer they could hardly refuse.

“Are you suggesting we take over the Shinma Merchant Guild?”

“But that wouldn’t look very good…”

The Minister of Revenue smiled quietly.

“Of course, we can’t directly step forward. There is another entity that will take the lead in promoting the merger.”

“Where is that?”

“The Golden Dragon Merchant Guild.”

He had already contacted the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild and coordinated their plans.

“I have received a promise that if the merger is successful, half of the profits generated through the Shinma Merchant Guild’s commercial rights will be donated to the court.”

Exclamations rippled through the room.

“Ooh!”

“If so, the first priority would be to somehow draw Dan-ak Seon out of His Majesty’s favor.”

“That’s not enough. We need to make sure he falls completely out of favor.”

“Isn’t he only sixteen years old? He won’t be as skilled in diplomacy or eloquence as Neung So-mil, so it won’t be that difficult.”

“Alright, then. Let’s hurry with the preparations.”

The officials’ eyes changed in an instant.

They began to gleam coldly, like wolves eyeing their prey.

The imperial palace hall where the emperor discussed state affairs was called Hwanggeukjeon (皇極殿) [Hall of Supreme Ultimateness].

They knew better than anyone how dangerous that place was.

Five days later.

The emperor, presiding over a royal court meeting, asked the officials of the Ministry of Rites.

“Has that boy entered the palace yet?”

The Minister of Rites bowed his head and answered quickly.

“An audience is scheduled for three days from now. If you command, shall I send someone to move up the schedule?”

“Do so. I have great expectations for that boy.”

He wanted to see for himself just how talented this person was, that Neung So-mil was so loyal to him.

At this moment, one of the officials, who had been observing the others, stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, please allow me to speak.”

Surprise flickered in the emperor’s eyes.

“I thought there were no more items to discuss from the Ministry of Revenue today?”

At the emperor’s question, Minister of Revenue Yang So bowed his head even deeper, as if terrified.

“I am afraid, but I have something to report separately from that.”

The emperor stared at him intently.

After a moment, he spoke. “If you cause internal strife again with unnecessary stories, I will no longer overlook it. Permission to speak is granted, but keep this in mind.”

Yang So flinched at the emperor’s warning.

No matter how much power he wielded, enough to bring down a flying bird, this was the royal court, where one wrong word could cost him his head.

But now that he had made up his mind, he couldn’t back down.

After clearing his throat, Yang So began, “I dare to say that he should be held accountable and severely punished.”

The emperor frowned.

It wasn’t difficult to guess who he was talking about.

“Who? Are you talking about the boy, Dan-ak Seon?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What is the reason?”

“Recently, there have been disturbing rumors circulating about them.”

At the Minister of Revenue’s signal, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, who were standing behind him, began to bring in the prepared reports and memorials, piling them up.

“What is all this?”

“These are the materials reported by the generals and soldiers belonging to the Muwi Garrison, stationed in Muwi, according to Your Majesty’s command.”

“What do they say?”

The Minister of Revenue reported in detail about the recent conflict between the military and Neung So-mil in Muwi.

“The dispatch of the Muwi Garrison was by Your Majesty’s order. Nevertheless, they dared to intimidate and threaten Your Majesty’s soldiers. In addition, Neung So-mil, who should have wisely governed the people and mediated the conflict with the military, instead incited the people to revolt against the soldiers. Furthermore, taking advantage of the poor conditions of the garrison, which is dedicated to Your Majesty, he is trying to control the Muwi Garrison by using his Shinma Merchant Guild to pressure them. I cannot believe that this was Neung So-mil’s unilateral decision.”

“Hmm.”

At the emperor’s somewhat lukewarm reaction, the Minister of Revenue quickly added, “The people there are different from ordinary people. Many of them have learned martial arts, and they all have a history of being involved with the Demonic Sect, so they may turn into rebellious traitors at any time.”

The emperor’s eyes narrowed.

And at the following words, the Minister of Revenue’s heart sank.

“Does this mean that my soldiers are so incompetent that they cannot even handle ordinary people properly?”

“N, no, that’s not it. I am only trying to suggest that the person who is manipulating Neung So-mil from behind is that boy…”

“Enough.”

The emperor cast a displeased look.

“The conflict between the governor, the head of the administrative division, and the military was already somewhat expected when Muwi was promoted to a directly controlled state.”

“However, considering the special circumstances of the Shinma Merchant Guild and Muwi…”

The emperor waved his hand, cutting off the Minister of Revenue’s words once again.

“I am well aware that the establishment of illegal gangs is a serious crime punishable by death according to the Great Ming Code. I am also well aware that the martial artists of Muwi are united around the Shinma Merchant Guild. But isn’t this a fact that you have all been condoning for a long time?”

The emperor cast a contemptuous look at him as he hesitated.

“Above all, I believe that you all agreed to give him sufficient discretion when Neung So-mil was appointed as governor, didn’t you?”

It was the Minister of Rites, standing in the back, who saved the Minister of Revenue from his predicament.

“That is not the only reason why the boy should be held accountable.”

As the emperor’s gaze turned to him, the Minister of Rites continued, “It has been more than a month since he returned from the north, but he is only now coming to see Your Majesty, which is truly absurd. It is something that would not dare to happen unless he had impure intentions.”

“Impure intentions?”

“Since he has been working with the northern barbarians for a considerable period, he has an obligation to report to Your Majesty in detail what he has seen and heard on the spot, but that boy has not done so.”

He knew the emperor’s weak spot well, as he had been assisting him for the longest time.

The emperor, who had hastily ascended to the throne due to an unexpected accident involving the late emperor, was excessively obsessed with authority.

As expected.

The emperor’s eyebrows twitched at his detailed explanation.

“From what I have learned, he did not move immediately after receiving the order to enter the palace but went back and forth between the Shinma Medical Center and the Merchant Guild, doing various things.”

“Is that true?”

“How dare I lie to Your Majesty?”

“Hmm…”

“That’s not all. There is a group coming here with him to see Your Majesty. She is known in the martial world as Bingok Seonja [Ice Valley Immortal], and she is said to be a master of martial arts so skilled that it is difficult to find an opponent even within the martial world.”

The lines etched on the emperor’s forehead deepened.

“Have I authorized this?”

“There was no such thing. Even if you had authorized it, we would have opposed it, as Your Majesty’s safety is at stake.”

The emperor chuckled.

“It seems he was quite anxious to bring escorts. Or perhaps he doesn’t trust me.”

Seeing this as an opportunity, the Minister of Revenue stepped forward.

“One time can be dismissed as a simple coincidence, but repeated coincidences can never be seen as coincidences. The boy’s various actions clearly show that he does not take Your Majesty’s authority seriously, so please heed our advice.”

The emperor, who had been organizing his thoughts, turned his head and cast his gaze on one person.

“What does the Minister of Personnel think?”

Minister of Personnel Heo Shin hurriedly stepped forward.

Then, with a pale face, he glared at the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Rites.

“How dare you utter such absurd words of forced interpretation in this sacred royal court?”

He had long been aligned with Neung So-mil.

As such, he actively defended Dan-ak Seon.

“Your Majesty, it is true that there is someone accompanying Dan-ak Seon. But this is only to see Your Majesty, not as an escort.”

“Does a master of the martial world have a reason to see me?”

“She said she has something to return directly to Your Majesty.”

Surprise appeared in the emperor’s eyes.

To return something meant that the item originally belonged to him.

“Then why didn’t you submit a report to me about it?”

Heo Shin smiled bitterly.

He was planning to report it after seeing the situation, but they came out first and ruined it.

“What did she say the item was?”

Heo Shin was flustered at the emperor’s question.

“I have not yet accurately identified it. I was going to check after Your Majesty authorized it, but…”

As if they had been waiting, the conservative ministers raised their voices in unison.

“Are you out of your mind? Do you even know what that thing is?”

“No, before that, don’t you think the very idea of bringing a master of the martial world into the royal court is reckless?”

Heo Shin immediately retorted, “Looking back on their past actions, none of those related to Neung So-mil and the Shinma Merchant Guild have failed to be loyal to Your Majesty.”

“Humph! What if all of that was a ploy to see Your Majesty? Originally, accidents happen in situations where you cannot suspect them. Isn’t that why there is a procedure to prevent this in advance?”

The goal of the conservative ministers, led by the Minister of Revenue, was clear: to undermine Dan-ak Seon as much as possible, and to exclude as many potential helpers as possible.

It was then that the emperor, who had been watching the ministers’ debate, raised his hand.

The emperor, who had been sweeping his gaze through the hall that had become quiet in an instant as if cold water had been poured on it, slowly opened his mouth.

“Send someone immediately to find out what that item is that they say they will return to me. I will decide whether to grant the audience after that.”

* * *

It had been fifteen days since they left Muwi.

Dan-ak Seon and Han Seol-hwa entered a village located at the edge of the main road.

The sun was already setting behind the western mountains.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

At Han Seol-hwa’s question, Dan-ak Seon smiled and shook his head.

“It’s okay. Neung Uncle does this every time.”

Beijing, where the Forbidden City is located, was now within sight.

It would be a lie to say that he didn’t feel burdened by the fact that he would soon have to meet the emperor.

But he tried not to dwell on it too much.

The two, who had stopped by a nearby inn to settle down, were waiting for the food they had ordered while having a casual conversation.

At this time, a group of government soldiers entered the inn.

Han Seol-hwa frowned slightly as she spotted the person at the head of them.

“It’s Changwi (廠衛) [Imperial Bodyguard].”

It wasn’t difficult to recognize the Wisa [guards], who belonged to the Dongchang (東廠) [Eastern Depot], an organization directly under the emperor specializing in surveillance and information gathering.

The unique crimson silk uniform and black leather shoes.

Above all, the expressionless face and cold eyes that exuded a sense of intimidation created a strange, unsettling atmosphere.

It was then that Dan-ak Seon’s eyes met those of the Changwi, who was looking around the inn.

A look of bewilderment appeared on Dan-ak Seon’s face.

The man, who had slightly raised the corners of his mouth, was walking straight towards the table where they were sitting.