Chapter 74

There were several places in the Imperial Palace where ministers gathered to discuss state affairs.

Duheonjeong was one of them.

Duheonjeong was a place frequented only by those from prestigious families who had their base in the Imperial Capital, Jinneung, and had held official posts for generations. There was no particular rule or standard for setting foot in the place.

However, no one other than the chief ministers of the Jaebu (Central Administration) and their close associates dared to enter Duheonjeong.

“It seems His Majesty is in a good mood again today.”

“Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

“It is quite unusual. Just a few days ago, he summoned us from the morning and raised his voice over the slow progress of affairs. Didn’t he get very angry at the Panwonsa immediately after that?”

The chief ministers of the Jaebu were seated at a long rectangular table. Before each of them lay the scrolls of memorials to be submitted to the Emperor.

“On that day, he summoned the Panwonsa again and negotiated many things. Everyone knows the great standoff between His Majesty and the Panwonsa lasted for almost a month.”

Gwon Hong-yeom, one of the Pyeongjangsa (Ministers), shared what he knew.

“It is said that harsh words were exchanged between His Majesty and the Panwonsa even then.”

A Gigeorang (Historian) replied politely. Gwon Hong-yeom snorted at the courteous words.

“The conflict between His Majesty and the Panwonsa was quickly resolved, making the month-long period meaningless. That is not all. The Panwonsa did not accept the post of Minister of War, but the Byeongbu Sirang (Vice-Minister of War) was newly appointed by the Panwonsa‘s person. What does that imply?”

At Gwon Hong-yeom’s words, one of the four Pyeongjangsa answered.

“The Panwonsa is now virtually the Minister of War. It is not a new thing for the Panwonsa to haggle with His Majesty over taking the Minister of War post.”

“Even though they frequently bicker, His Majesty’s trust in the Panwonsa is deep, is it not? [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] The Panwonsa is the focal point of the Gyo Marquisate family in the Imperial Capital, so it is difficult for His Majesty to neglect him.”

A Chamjijeongsa (Vice-Minister, Junior 2nd Rank), one of the Jaebu ministers, spoke softly. His gaze was directed at another chief minister, Dam Gyeong-ryun, the Jeongdang Munhak (Junior 2nd Rank), and Man Mun-won, the Gan-ui Daebu (Censor, Senior 4th Rank post, affiliated with the Chancellery), seated next to him. Dam Gyeong-ryun was Dam So-ui, Dam Seo-jun’s grand-uncle, and Man Mun-won was the Empress’s cousin.

The Jaebu chief ministers, including the Chamjijeongsa, often talked behind the Emperor’s back, saying he had a truly nasty personality.

Dam Gyeong-ryun, being from the scholarly Dam clan, was qualified to become the Jeongdang Munhak, a position requiring literary competence. However, many viewed it as too early for Dam Gyeong-ryun, with his meager career and insignificant reputation, to rise to the Jeongdang Munhak, one of the Jaebu chief ministers. It was clear that the Man Empress, a relative, had a significant influence on his becoming a Jaebu minister.

As if to demonstrate that relationship, Dam Gyeong-ryun always sat Man Mun-won beside him when entering Duheonjeong.

Unlike the Dam family, who had established a foundation in the Imperial Capital, the Man family had virtually no foundation and not many talented individuals like the Dam family. Man Mun-won, the Empress’s cousin, was the only one from the nominal Man family who held an official post, so the Emperor seemed to have appointed him as the Gan-ui Daebu.

Considering the work of the Gan-ui Daebu, one could understand the Emperor’s inner thoughts. The Gan-ui Daebu‘s role was to respond to the chief ministers’ remarks, assist the Emperor at his side, and remonstrate with him, but Man Mun-won dared not offer counsel to the Emperor.

Since he was a person appointed to show respect to the Empress, he would be solely grateful just for maintaining the post. Even when the Gan-ui Daebu responded to the chief ministers’ remarks, Man Mun-won did not report to the Emperor; rather, the Emperor commanded how to deal with the chief ministers’ remarks.

He was practically a scarecrow, not even at the level to be mocked as a “vegetable Gan-ui Daebu.”

“I hear His Majesty has visited Consort Gwi-bi Gyo at Giryung Palace four days in a row?”

The Munha Sijung (Prime Minister, Junior 1st Rank, highest office, one position) who had been silent throughout, finally spoke. At Beon Seung’s words, Dam Gyeong-ryun and Man Mun-won’s faces became noticeably uncomfortable.

“Consort Gwi-bi Gyo’s Geum performance must be extraordinary.”

Dam Gyeong-ryun spoke with forced good humor.

“I have not heard the Geum performance, so I would not know, but his face is extraordinary. I have never seen such a clear, handsome man in my life. Who would dislike it if a peach-blossom-like handsome man performed the Geum for them?”

Pyeongjangsa Gwon Hong-yeom interjected, twitching his nose.

“There are rumors that His Majesty’s writing brush is kept in Consort Gwi-bi’s study.”

Beon Seung’s tone was calm. The chief ministers of the Jaebu‘s expressions rapidly soured at the Prime Minister’s casually dropped words.

“Does that rumor, that His Majesty conducted state affairs in a consort’s residence, hold true?”

“When he is in a consort’s residence, the consort attends to His Majesty, does he not?”

“Consort Gwi-bi Gyo is the legitimate son of the Gyo Marquisate family. Would not an individual with his knowledge attend to him and speak a word or two? It is an ominous act for a consort to offer opinions on court affairs.”

“It is a well-known story that, though brief, His Majesty drove the implicated individuals all at once, as if beating them with a club, when he interrogated the ministers. Was that a coincidence?”

The four Pyeongjangsa and the Chamjijeongsa spoke as if pouring out what they knew. Prime Minister Beon Seung’s brow furrowed briefly before quickly returning to normal.

“How is Dam So-ui these days, Jeongdang Munhak?”

Dam Gyeong-ryun smiled awkwardly at Beon Seung’s question.

“Though His Majesty has visited Consort Gwi-bi for a few days, how could that compare to Dam So-ui? I am disappointed. Even while visiting Consort Gwi-bi’s residence, His Majesty has Dam So-ui attend him in the morning and spends time with him, often taking walks together. However, since Dam So-ui is only a So-ui, there are many restrictions in various areas.”

“The Consort’s rank is irrelevant to our intentions.”

Beon Seung lightly brushed aside Dam Gyeong-ryun’s complaint.

“Ahem, I know.”

“You cannot doubt His Majesty’s favor toward Dam So-ui.”

Man Mun-won, who had been silent all along, spoke up as if to lend strength to Dam Gyeong-ryun.

Beon Seung looked at Man Mun-won, who had finally spoken.

“How is Her Majesty the Empress’s health?”

“Her Majesty the Empress is focusing on her recovery. As her health has been poor since childhood, her recovery is slow, and Her Majesty is concerned about not fulfilling her duties.”

“We cannot inspect the consort’s residence. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Would that not also be difficult for Dam So-ui?”

A half-smile hung on Beon Seung’s face as he asked the question. No one in the court was unaware that Dam So-ui could do nothing when Consort Gwi-bi Gyo acted aggressively toward him.

“Are you saying that Her Majesty the Empress should monitor Consort Gwi-bi?”

Man Mun-won spoke with an air of displeasure.

“I am not asking Her Majesty to persecute Consort Gwi-bi. Should He (The Emperor) not at least reduce the frequency of visiting Consort Gwi-bi? If Her Majesty the Empress were to hold her place, at the very least, His Majesty would not go to Consort Gwi-bi’s residence for four consecutive days. This is because His Majesty values propriety and protocol.”

Beon Seung frowned, speaking his mind.

“Her Majesty the Empress is not fully recovered yet. She needs time to regain her health.”

Man Mun-won said firmly.

“His Majesty has issued an edict to Consort Gwi-bi. The content is that Consort Gwi-bi is forbidden from playing gyeokgu, and she needs His Majesty’s permission to ride a horse. Has His Majesty ever issued an edict to a consort? Which consort has He ever cared for so exceptionally? It is not a normal situation for the Emperor to develop an attachment to a consort He cherishes so much that He himself does not realize it. Her Majesty the Empress must step forward.”

Man Mun-won agreed with the contents of the Prime Minister’s stern words.

“However, it is difficult for now.”

“Is the Dam family not doing its best to aid the Empress’s recovery?”

“Health is not recovered so easily. Since Dam So-ui is present, if we share the Empress’s role a little…”

The chief ministers next to Prime Minister Beon Seung gave Dam Gyeong-ryun cold looks. Man Mun-won’s expression was similarly rigid.

“Unless you have a scheme to break Consort Gwi-bi’s hand after entering her residence and cut off His Majesty’s visits, Her Majesty the Empress must fulfill her duties before the next season. It is difficult to wait any longer than that.”

Beon Seung spoke as if delivering an ultimatum and left Duheonjeong. An uncomfortable silence settled in the chamber.

******

The surroundings were quiet. It was somewhat dark, but the face of the person nearby was clearly visible.

A large hand stroked the bewildered side of Yeon-oh’s face. It was a gentle touch, but the eyes, softly moist with tears, only felt uneasy. The eyes, reddened just from the kissing, looked up at the man with a troubled gaze.

Yeon-oh clearly did not know that the beseeching gaze, craving kindness, stimulated the other party’s sadism. The firm hand that had been touching his face slowly slid down to caress his slender neck.