The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 340

The Divine Doctor (340)

“Is that person perhaps a meritorious subject who contributed to the founding of the nation?”

The Minister of Revenue was utterly taken aback by the absurd question.

Meritorious subjects were, literally, those who had greatly contributed to the founding of the Great Ming Dynasty.

It was impossible that any of them could still be alive after more than a hundred and fifty years.

“What nonsense are you spouting now!”

Unlike the Minister of Revenue, who was furious at the ridiculous remark and whose beard was even trembling, the Emperor was so dumbfounded that he chuckled.

“That can’t be.”

Excluding himself, ten emperors had already sat on the throne.

Most of the meritorious subjects who founded the nation hadn’t escaped the purges enacted by newly enthroned emperors.

Then, curiosity sparked within him.

The boy before him couldn’t have asked the question without knowing this history.

“Why do you ask that?”

Dan Ahk-seon replied with a puzzled expression to the Emperor’s question.

“I thought the Certificate of Merit was only bestowed upon meritorious subjects who contributed to the founding of the nation.”

The Emperor, who had been tilting his head, stopped smiling at Dan Ahk-seon’s subsequent words.

“Since you’re not a meritorious subject, you wouldn’t have a Certificate of Merit, would you? Then why are you lying in front of His Majesty?”

The Certificate of Merit is also called the Certificate of Exemption from Death [a document granting immunity from the death penalty].

The founding Emperor Hongwu bestowed iron certificates upon his close aides who helped him establish the Ming Dynasty.

It was a kind of indulgence that guaranteed the privilege of being exempt from the death penalty for any crime except treason.

It meant, how dare you offer false advice without such immunity.

“You’ve told several lies at once, which is difficult to do even one at a time.”

As it was an obvious criticism to anyone, the Minister of Revenue’s face turned crimson.

Regardless,

Dan Ahk-seon, having found his stride, continued his relentless attack.

“If that’s a skill, then it’s quite a skill. Someone as timid as I am wouldn’t dare to even imagine it.”

“How dare you! A young brat whose blood hasn’t even dried…….”

“The blood shouldn’t dry in my head. Because then I’d die.”

“What?”

“Well, I’m a doctor too. No matter how angry you are, I don’t think that’s something you should say in front of a doctor. If you said it knowing that, it’s cruel, and if you said it without knowing, it’s ignorant.”

The Minister of Revenue was on the verge of foaming at the mouth at Dan Ahk-seon’s sharp retort.

A mere commoner.

He never imagined that a boy who had barely lost his baby fat would openly humiliate a minister of the court like this.

It was then that the Emperor, who had been watching the situation unfold with interest, finally spoke.

“If you have something to say, speak. I will listen.”

Dan Ahk-seon, who had turned his gaze away from the Minister of Revenue and looked at the Emperor, began to refute the claims he had made, point by point.

“First of all, it’s true that I gathered unorthodox martial artists with a specific purpose. But that was to prevent the Demonic Sect [a villainous sect often depicted in martial arts stories] from increasing its power by exploiting the conflict between the orthodox and unorthodox factions, not to plot a rebellion or for personal gain. I simply provided them with a safe place to stay.”

The Minister of Revenue shouted.

“Now you’re confessing that you intentionally gathered unorthodox martial artists!”

“If I had wanted to gather them, there wouldn’t have been anyone to chase away. More than a hundred people came seeking martial arts instruction, but were kicked out because their intentions were impure or they caused problems. If my purpose was to gather military force, they were experts I should have embraced.”

“Th, that’s…….”

“Besides, I have never built an ambiguous alliance with the northern Tatar tribes [nomadic groups north of China]. I only gave them help, and received tokens containing their gratitude. If I had intended to plot something by joining forces, I would have hidden the flags they gave me, not presented them to Your Majesty.”

Dan Ahk-seon fired back without a break.

“It’s also absurd to say that I’m using my parents’ reputation to win over the famous figures of the martial world. On the contrary, the Divine Doctor’s Clinic that I run is actually being criticized by those figures.”

The Emperor, who had heard rumors about Dan Ahk-seon’s medical skills, looked surprised.

“Why is that?”

“Because the treatment fees are expensive.”

Dan Ahk-seon smiled awkwardly.

“The treatment fees at the Divine Doctor’s Clinic are determined differently, taking into account the patient’s age and economic situation. However, those who are highly regarded in the martial world or have a certain social status are not eligible for any discounts. Naturally, the famous figures who have to pay high treatment fees have a lot of complaints.”

Dan Ahk-seon’s gaze turned to the Minister of Revenue.

“Even up to this point, you’ve already told three lies. But that’s still better compared to the fourth lie. Regardless of the content, it was something that a subject of His Majesty should never have said.”

The Minister of Revenue visibly panicked at Dan Ahk-seon’s next words.

“The reason why the Divine Doctor Merchant Group provides free education to the children of ordinary people and the Military Guard is not to win over their parents by holding the children hostage. It’s actually the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

Dan Ahk-seon nodded at the Emperor’s question.

“Yes. Through learning, children will have the opportunity to choose their own lives, rather than relying on their given destiny. They will also gain the wisdom to avoid unfortunate mistakes. Through the images of those children, parents will gratefully feel the blessings they enjoy under the reign of His Majesty the current Emperor, and naturally regard it as His Majesty’s virtue. Also, the talented people who stand out in the process will one day be of help to Your Majesty.”

“Humph! That’s just a smokescreen. Even if you teach those lowly things, how many outstanding talents will come out of it?”

Dan Ahk-seon glared at the Minister of Revenue, who was sneering, with a serious expression.

“If you believe that, you should never be sitting in that position.”

“What?”

“Isn’t that something that someone who has studied Confucianism deeply and has risen to an official position through it should never say?”

The Minister of Revenue paused at Dan Ahk-seon’s cold voice.

The words he had uttered without thinking deeply, swept away by the heat of the moment, had become a sharp dagger hanging over his chin.

The core of Confucianism was that anyone could become a noble person through self-cultivation.

According to his words, it was no different from denying Confucius’ actions of taking An Hoi, who was a poor man, or Jaro, who was from a back alley, as his disciples and teaching them.

Dan Ahk-seon sharply pointed out his hypocrisy.

“By what right do you dare to insult His Majesty’s people? If you can’t teach and lead the people to move in a good direction, what are you doing politics for? Is it just to reign over the powerless people and enjoy power? Or is it to look down on people who are in different situations from you and revel in a sense of superiority?”

“Sh, shut up!”

The Minister of Revenue pleaded to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, that boy is slandering me in this sacred presence without any evidence. Please consider the matter carefully.”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.

“Slander…….”

“Yes, it is clear slander. I don’t know the reason or purpose for that boy’s slander against me.”

Dan Ahk-seon cut off the Minister of Revenue’s words and stepped forward.

“Really? I know.”

“What?”

“I’m talking about the reason why the Minister is so eager to get rid of me and Uncle Neung.”

“Nonsense! Don’t recklessly slander my burning loyalty to Your Majesty!”

“Then that means you have no personal feelings at all?”

“Of course!”

In the end, Dan Ahk-seon drew his sword at the Minister of Revenue’s brazen denial.

“I didn’t want to go this far……. I have no choice.”

Dan Ahk-seon sighed softly and asked the Minister of Revenue.

“Have you ever made any kind of agreement with the Golden Dragon Merchant Group?”

Dan Ahk-seon asked again, looking at the Minister of Revenue, who flinched with a startled expression.

“For example, after falsely accusing me and Uncle Neung and removing us from our positions, the Golden Dragon Merchant Group would absorb the Divine Doctor Merchant Group, and then share half of the profits generated through the Divine Doctor Merchant Group with other ministers who share the same intentions, a secret agreement like that.”

“……!”

Alarm and embarrassment settled on the faces of the conservative ministers who heard those words.

“Wh, what is…….”

Dan Ahk-seon urged the Minister of Revenue, who was unable to continue speaking in embarrassment.

“Please answer honestly this time.”

The Minister of Revenue, who had been biting his lip, pleaded to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty! This is also slander. I have never harmed anyone for personal gain.”

Dan Ahk-seon frowned and shook his head.

“How many lives do you have that you keep deceiving His Majesty with lies?”

Thump.

The Emperor, striking the armrest of the throne, cast a stern gaze at Dan Ahk-seon.

“Do you have any evidence to support that claim?”

“Yes.”

Dan Ahk-seon took something out of his pocket.

It was a piece of paper, neatly folded.

Dan Ahk-seon unfolded it and looked up at the Emperor.

“The secret agreement between the Minister of Revenue over there and the Golden Dragon Merchant Group. It’s an agreement that specifies the specific details.”

The Minister of Revenue jumped at those words.

“Wh, what? Th, that can’t be!”

He was truly beside himself with shock.

Merchants were a kind of people who could change their words at any time if they did not leave them in writing.

So, he had written down the agreement he had made with the Golden Dragon Merchant Group and kept one copy each.

But how could the document, which should have been hidden in a secret place known only to him, be in the hands of that brat?

There was only one place he could think of right away.

The Minister of Revenue hurriedly approached Dan Ahk-seon and snatched the document he was holding.

As expected.

It was clear that the document had been leaked from the Golden Dragon Merchant Group.

The seal was made by overlapping two documents to prevent possible forgery.

He had inferred the origin of the document from its location.

‘Did the Golden Dragon Merchant Group betray me? Or is it a trap designed to oust me from the beginning?’

At this moment, the Minister of Revenue was so confused that he could not come to his senses.

Then, something suddenly came to his mind.

‘The Eastern Depot [a Ming Dynasty secret police agency]!’

A special agency that does not care about means and methods for the sake of its purpose.

No matter how powerful the Golden Dragon Merchant Group was, they would not have been able to withstand their threats or persuasion.

“Bring that document to me.”

The hand of the Minister of Revenue, holding the document, trembled.

It was clear evidence that he could not move or budge.

But with the Emperor glaring at him with his eyes wide open, he could not tear it up and swallow it.

The conservative ministers who shared the same intentions as the Minister of Revenue were also restless, with anxious eyes.

In the end, the Minister of Revenue staggered and approached the Emperor to offer the document.

The Emperor received the document and nodded after checking its contents.

“Your handwriting is clear.”

“Yo, Your Majesty…….”

“I have no subject like you.”

The Minister of Revenue trembled at the Emperor’s stern voice.

“I valued your abilities and cherished you very much, but you dared to deceive me with false advice? How are you any different from Yoo Geun?”

The Minister of Revenue could not even dare to raise his head at the Emperor’s fierce eyes, which openly revealed his anger.

“I will personally investigate this matter, so the criminal should leave the court immediately and await instructions.”

“……Thank you for your grace.”

The Minister of Revenue, who had suddenly been reduced to a criminal, lowered his head powerlessly.

He was grateful that his head was not cut off right away.

Considering the Emperor’s history of carrying out a ruthlessly terrible blood purge in the early days of his reign, even this was a gracious thing.

After such a commotion was over.

“I thought you were innocent, but you have quite the eloquence?”

The Emperor came to see Dan Ahk-seon differently.

The rhetoric of righteous words and direct advice that overcomes the crisis only with justification and conviction.

It was clearly compared to the skillful eloquence based on meticulous design, which deliberately reveals weaknesses to induce the other party’s mistakes and then reverses the situation by using them as an excuse.

‘Birds of a feather flock together…….’

In the end, it was the logic of human relationships that similar types gathered together and resembled each other.

“I just told the truth.”

The Emperor smiled bitterly at Dan Ahk-seon’s answer.

“Sometimes the truth is worse than a lie.”