Myst, Might, Mayhem (Novel) - Chapter 226 - Imperial Noble Consort Seo (2)

Chapter 226 – Imperial Noble Consort Seo (2)

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Junior Supervisor Jang of the Eastern Depot raised his voice.

“Hmph, and yet you still do not kneel. How insolent.”

At his bark, Gan Yang, who was effectively the leader of the advance party, slowly steadied his breathing.

This was clearly meant to seize the initiative.

If he got agitated here, he would only ruin things.

‘There is no helping it.’

The side at a disadvantage right now was not Imperial Noble Consort Seo’s side, but theirs.

Gan Yang dropped to one knee and bowed his head, offering an even more respectful greeting.

“This humble one pays respects to Her Imperial Noble Consort.”

Then the others quietly glanced sideways at Mok Gyeong-un.

Mok Gyeong-un faintly curled up one corner of his mouth, then, like Gan Yang, dropped to one knee and cupped his hands in greeting.

Seeing that, the others also followed suit and paid their respects.

“This humble one pays respects to Her Imperial Noble Consort.”

At their respectful greeting, Junior Supervisor Jang of the Eastern Depot turned his head and looked toward Imperial Noble Consort Seo, seated beyond the hanging screen in the hall.

He was asking what she wished to do.

They could have forced them to prostrate themselves and show even more courtesy than this, but these people were martial artists.

If they kept provoking them over nothing, trouble could break out, so even crushing their spirit required measured restraint.

Imperial Noble Consort Seo slightly raised a hand.

Then Junior Supervisor Jang said to those kneeling,

“Her Ladyship has received your greetings, so rise.”

‘…This is different from what I heard.’

Gan Yang clicked his tongue inwardly.

According to Yu Bong, who had infiltrated the Eastern Depot as a eunuch, Seo Yang-hyo had indeed gained boundless authority after becoming Imperial Noble Consort, but because she had not forgotten the Heaven and Earth Society’s support all this time, she would still keep some basic limits.

But the atmosphere now was nothing like that.

Rather, she seemed intent on thoroughly making clear who stood above and who stood below.

Since they were the side asking a favor, they had no choice but to go along with it, but he was growing increasingly worried.

“Honored guests, sit before the tables prepared on either side.”

Junior Supervisor Jang pointed at the neat food tables set out to the left and right.

The hall was the seat of honor, and the places before it could only be called the lower seats.

-This is why I say one should never deal with royals or palace people. They think they are the whole world.

Blue Spirit said in an irritated voice.

Since she had lived through an age when the government and murim kept a strict policy of mutual non-interference, she found this kind of setting thoroughly distasteful.

Of course, Mok Gyeong-un did not seem to care at all and silently went and sat down in an empty place.

Once everyone had sat, a voice came from inside the hall.

“Raise the screen.”

“Your Ladyship, why…”

“I said raise it.”

“As you command.”

The palace maids inside then lifted the screen that had been concealing the interior of the hall.

Then the lavish banquet set out inside and a beautiful woman in splendid red clothing, carrying both grace and seduction, came into view.

Seeing her, Seop Chun nearly let out a gasp without realizing it.

Even though she was past thirty, her beauty was enough to bewitch the soul, and he felt he could understand why the Emperor doted on her so.

Moreover, as befitted one of the four figures who controlled the power of this nation, there was something about her that overwhelmed the surroundings, as though beauty itself could pull one in.

Then she spoke.

“You have all come a long way. You must have had a hard journey.”

Gan Yang bowed his head and answered,

“Not at all, Your Ladyship. Rather, it is only our shame that we have caused you to come to such a humble place.”

He was trying as hard as possible to flatter her.

But at his words, Imperial Noble Consort Seo let out a derisive snort and said,

“Enough. This is not the palace, so there is no need to speak such empty pleasantries.”

“…My apologies, Your Ladyship.”

This was awkward.

He had no idea what tune he was supposed to dance to.

If he did not flatter her, he was insolent, and if he did, then that too was dismissed as hypocrisy.

He could not understand why she was being so sharp from the very beginning, before he had even properly raised the main point.

‘I do have one move prepared for the worst.’

He only hoped the situation would not come to that.

Because if he used that move, they would lose the card called Imperial Noble Consort Seo in this affair.

But the Society had ordered them to complete the mission by any means necessary.

Which meant they were prepared to throw away even this card.

‘But I will not let it go that far.’

Gan Yang opened his mouth with as pleasant a smile as possible, hoping at least to ease the mood.

“Your Ladyship, the roast duck of Hwayang Pavilion here is famed for…”

“I said there is no need for empty pleasantries.”

“…”

At her words, not only Gan Yang but everyone on the Heaven and Earth Society’s side stiffened.

Anyone could hear the edge in Imperial Noble Consort Seo’s tone.

She still did not know their true purpose.

She only knew that they wanted her authority to allow them to take part in the martial selection of the Imperial Guard Bureau.

This shrewd woman had instead demanded that the Society send some of its promising younger talents.

Her reasoning was that even for the martial selections of the Imperial Guard Bureau or the Embroidered Uniform Guard, even the orthodox martial world sent promising younger talents from the Nine Great Sects and One Gang or famous martial clans, so otherwise there would be no justification for a recommendation.

‘We accepted that, so why is she being this hostile?’

It made no sense.

But because he had resolved to endure any humiliation, Gan Yang spoke without showing it as much as possible.

“I only meant to ease the atmosphere with some light conversation, but it seems I have merely disturbed Your Ladyship’s mood. If you would be so magnanimous…”

“Enough. Let us omit the preliminaries and get to the point.”

“Pardon?”

“Did you not hear? I said let us get to the point.”

At those words from Imperial Noble Consort Seo, Gan Yang furrowed his brow.

They had brought gifts, and he had intended to raise the true topic once the atmosphere had softened over dinner.

But she came at it head-on, which left him taken aback.

“Your Ladyship.”

“Why are you so surprised? I am only suggesting that we discuss what has already passed between us.”

“That is true, but for you to bring it up so quickly is truly…”

“Startling?”

“…”

“You intended to bring up the real matter once the mood had ripened somewhat, but has this consort clumsily spoiled it before it even began?”

At her words, Gan Yang’s eyes narrowed.

Until now, he had thought this was simply a matter of Imperial Noble Consort Seo being in a foul mood.

But it seemed that was not the case.

‘Could it be…’

-Swoosh!

Gan Yang’s gaze turned toward Yu Bong, who was standing beside Junior Supervisor Jang of the Eastern Depot.

By chance, their eyes met, and Yu Bong raised a sleeve to his mouth and gave him a smile.

It looked almost like a sneer.

‘!?’

Seeing that, Gan Yang’s pupils shook.

He had had a bad feeling, and it seemed the thing he had feared had indeed happened.

‘You bastard…’

When Gan Yang glared at him, Yu Bong silently mouthed something.

Judging by the shape of his lips,

‘My apologies?’

* * *

Only a few shichen earlier.

Junior Supervisor Jang of the Eastern Depot patted Yu Bong on the shoulder as he came out of the Palace of Auspicious Grace and said,

-Pat, pat!

[Good work. Have you finished making your report?]

[Yes.]

[Woohoohoo. With this, Her Ladyship will trust you even more, Eunuch Yu, or rather, Deputy Eunuch Yu.]

[Deputy Eunuch Yu? What do you mean by…]

Among eunuch ranks, the highest first-rank eunuch was the Chief Eunuch.

Beneath that came Junior Supervisor, Deputy Eunuch, Palace Attendant in charge of supplies, and finally ordinary eunuchs with no office.

Originally, Yu Bong had been nothing more than an ordinary eunuch.

With a satisfied face, Junior Supervisor Jang said to him,

[Her Ladyship has ordered that you be promoted and your salary increased because of this matter.]

At those words, Yu Bong’s face brightened and he bowed at the waist in gratitude.

[Ahhh. I am only overcome with gratitude.]

Deputy Eunuch was a regular fifth-rank office, so he was genuinely delighted.

After being castrated and turned into a body that was neither man nor woman, he had thought he was doomed to live his whole life as the Society’s mole and die that way.

But Junior Supervisor Jang had pulled him out of that pit.

Being a eunuch did not mean one could not rise.

He could climb even higher.

‘I am no longer the old me.’

Junior Supervisor Jang had corrected his foolish way of thinking.

How could he end his life as no more than a low-ranking eunuch and a mere spy?

Yu Bong carefully said to Junior Supervisor Jang,

[Junior Supervisor Jang… then, as promised, will you also teach me the new forms?]

[New forms? Of course. I will. A man destined to become the right hand of this Jang Oh-taek, and you think that would be difficult? Woohoohoo.]

At those words, Yu Bong rejoiced inwardly.

It was a supreme imperial-palace secret art that had made him stronger than Gan Yang or Ok-gi in just one year, despite learning only the mental method and four forms.

If he mastered it all, what would happen then?

His body trembling with excitement, Junior Supervisor Jang gripped his shoulder tightly, curled up one corner of his mouth, and said,

[There is much to be done for Her Ladyship and His Highness the Crown Prince. Continue doing as you have been.]

[I will keep it in mind. I will truly keep it in mind.]

* * *

Watching the shape of Yu Bong’s lips, Gan Yang instinctively realized something.

That he had betrayed the Society.

Most of those sent as infiltrators underwent exhaustive loyalty tests.

Because if even one spy betrayed them, turned their back on them, or became a double agent, the backlash could cause an enormous disaster.

That was why most infiltrators sent into the field were not only loyalty-tested but also placed under prohibitions or other restraints, yet for some reason Yu Bong seemed free of all that.

‘This is the worst.’

He had never expected a traitor to emerge at a moment like this.

He did not know what Yu Bong had said to Imperial Noble Consort Seo, but it was certain that their petition had hit a wall.

At this point, they had no choice but to pull out their final card.

Just then, Imperial Noble Consort Seo spoke.

“Bold, are you not. No matter how favorably this consort may regard you, to dare try to free a prisoner confined in the underground prison of the imperial palace.”

“Your Ladyship, that…”

“That is an act of high treason.”

“…”

At her rebuke, Gan Yang’s mind grew tangled.

Words could be framed one way or another.

It seemed Yu Bong had been exceedingly thorough in telling her of their purpose.

Gan Yang calmly opened his mouth again.

“Your Ladyship. How could we…”

“Hold your tongue.”

“…”

“You try to drag this consort into committing such an act of high treason, and still you prattle so shamelessly with that loose tongue.”

“…”

“You are the ones who should have nothing to say even if you were executed on the spot.”

-Swoosh!

When she raised her hand, the hidden experts revealed themselves.

Since both the advance and rear parties had already known those experts were hiding there, this did not surprise them.

The problem was simply that matters had become tangled.

At their shaken expressions, the corner of Imperial Noble Consort Seo’s mouth twitched.

She recalled the conversation from a few shichen ago with Junior Supervisor Jang of the Eastern Depot and the middle-aged man in gray official robes seated to the left.

* * *

[Your Ladyship. What if you were to use this to your advantage?]

[Junior Supervisor Jang. What do you mean?]

[If you grant their request, it could bring great ruin upon both you and His Highness the Crown Prince.]

[As if I did not know that. But they have supported this consort since I was only a Noble Lady, so they may be holding even the slightest thing that could serve as a weakness.]

[All the more reason to make use of this situation.]

At that, Imperial Noble Consort Seo asked with puzzlement,

[How do you mean?]

[Your Ladyship must sever ties with such rogue rabble sooner or later for the sake of the Crown Prince’s future. This will provide ample justification.]

[Justification?]

[Yes. First, you must seize the initiative and break their spirit.]

[Seize the initiative?]

[They, too, know how much this request could harm Your Ladyship, so they will approach cautiously. But if Your Ladyship strikes first, they will have no choice but to find themselves in an awkward position.]

[Even so, do you think they will give up so easily?]

[Of course not.]

[Then what should I do after that?]

[Once you have taken the initiative and firmly impressed upon them how unreasonable their request is, turn around and make a demand of your own.]

[Make a demand?]

[Yes, precisely. If Deputy Eunuch Yu is right, they will be desperate to complete their mission, so they will have no choice but to accept whatever demand you make.]

[Oh? Go on.]

[Then Your Ladyship should demand that they take the life of either His Highness the Palm King or Noble Consort Ho.]

Palm King.

He was the second prince and had originally been the strongest candidate for Crown Prince.

Though Imperial Noble Consort Seo’s child had been installed as Crown Prince, there were still many ministers who followed him, making him no different from a thorn in her eye.

And Noble Consort Ho.

She had not entered the imperial palace very long ago.

She was only a young girl of palace-maid origin, yet with no backing at all, she had bewitched the Emperor with looks alone and climbed to the rank of Noble Consort in just three years.

For now the Emperor’s favor still leaned more toward Seo, but that girl was still only twenty-two, while Seo was now nearing her mid-thirties.

There was no telling when that balance might collapse, which made the girl the one person she most wanted dead.

But though she had already made several attempts to deal with the two of them, she had failed every time.

In the case of the Palm King, there was no helping it since so many followed him, but when it came to Noble Consort Ho, she truly could not understand it.

[You are telling me to have them take the lives of the Palm King or Noble Consort Ho?]

[Exactly.]

[And if they refuse?]

Would the Heaven and Earth Society really be willing to bear such a risk?

This would be extremely dangerous for them as well.

[You already needed a pretext to sever relations with them, so you may use this as the excuse.]

[Oh. And if they agree, that profits us as well.]

[Indeed.]

[But if they do, I must help them as well. What if that becomes a noose around my own ankle?]

[You need not worry about that.]

[Need not worry?]

[If they agree to your demand and succeed in taking the life of Noble Consort Ho or His Highness the Palm King, we can then deal with them decisively by tying it to the crime of trying to break a prisoner out of jail.]

At those words from Junior Supervisor Jang, the middle-aged man in gray official robes who had been merely listening finally spoke.

[If that comes to pass, we will protect Your Ladyship and His Highness the Crown Prince from those wicked unorthodox villains of the Heaven and Earth Society.]

* * *

Imperial Noble Consort Seo faintly curled up her lips.

Everything was perfect.

She was grateful to the Heaven and Earth Society for supporting her in every way, material and otherwise, until she had risen to this position.

But that was as far as it went.

She knew they had supported her in order to use her and the Crown Prince from the shadows in precisely this way.

So all she had to do was make full use of them one last time and then cut them away.

That was why she had demanded they send proper promising younger talents so these people would never be able to wash their hands of what happened here.

‘Whatever happens, you will dance in the palm of my hand.’

Imperial Noble Consort Seo signaled with her eyes to Junior Supervisor Jang of the Eastern Depot, who stood to her right.

It meant that he was to crush them thoroughly.

Junior Supervisor Jang gave a faint nod, then likewise signaled with his eyes to the middle-aged man in gray official robes standing on the left.

The man indicated by that glance was Mok Gyeong-un.

The middle-aged man nodded and half drew the willow-leaf saber at his waist.

-Shing!

The middle-aged man remembered what Yu Bong, Deputy Eunuch Yu, had said.

[The advance party is not much of a problem. But among those who came in the rear party, two are the greatest problem.]

[Who are they?]

[A man called Mok Gyeong-un, and Ja Geum-jeong the Demon-Subduing Fist Warrior.]

[The Demon-Subduing Fist Warrior?]

At that, the middle-aged man could not hide his surprise.

Ja Geum-jeong the Demon-Subduing Fist Warrior was infamous as one of the Three Mad Ones.

Even for him, if he were to face that man, it might take several hundred exchanges to decide the outcome.

[Hohoho. Please do not worry. We will ensure that Ja Geum-jeong the Demon-Subduing Fist Warrior cannot come. But the one called Mok Gyeong-un must absolutely be subdued by Lord Peng.]

[Is he that formidable?]

[If the Demon-Subduing Fist Warrior follows him, then he is at least one level above him.]

[Hmm. That is surprising. Above that mad, wine-broken monk…]

Yet what his senses felt from the boy was no more than the aura of a fully matured peak-realm fighter.

He had heard that the boy knew how to conceal his martial strength, but he was not even twenty, just a mere brat, so he had doubted it was true.

It was hard to believe such a brat could be one level above the Demon-Subduing Fist Warrior.

‘But there is no harm in being cautious.’

Even in the righteous martial world, there were geniuses among the so-called promising younger talents who boasted astonishing martial power.

He only needed to think of it as fighting one of them.

No matter how outstanding the boy was, he had experience and years behind him.

So long as he did not lower his guard, he believed he could subdue him.

And besides,

‘If need be, I can call for support.’

His younger brother was waiting outside as reinforcement.

His younger brother was indeed younger and somewhat frivolous in conduct, but his martial prowess was even greater than his own.

-Swoosh!

Then shall we begin by seizing the initiative?

The middle-aged man in gray official robes tried to draw the remainder of his willow-leaf saber.

Just then, Mok Gyeong-un gave a faint snort of amusement, picked up a piece of fried duck from the table with his chopsticks, and put it into his mouth.

Then he chewed for a moment, swallowed, and said,

“It tastes good.”

At that, everyone’s gaze turned toward Mok Gyeong-un.

Even Imperial Noble Consort Seo seemed dumbfounded by his leisurely attitude in such a hair-trigger situation, and she let out a contemptuous snort.

So this beautiful boy was the strongest of the promising younger talents the Eastern Depot’s Deputy Eunuch Yu had said the Heaven and Earth Society had sent.

He did seem bold for a young pup, but apparently he had no grasp of the situation.

-Swoosh!

Imperial Noble Consort Seo jerked her chin at the middle-aged man in gray official robes.

The man fully drew the willow-leaf saber, released a fierce aura, and advanced toward Mok Gyeong-un.

“How insolent. Her Ladyship is rebuking you, and yet…”

“I only felt the talk was dragging on too long with such good food sitting before me.”

“Presumptuous.”

“I did not even voice any special complaint. Is tasting the food really such a grave disrespect?”

“…Put down those chopsticks at once and kneel.”

“I only picked up a single piece, yet you are being awfully petty.”

“Ha!”

So he was that confident in his own martial skill?

Then let us see just how remarkable he is.

Drawing in a long breath, the middle-aged man in gray official robes raised his inner power to eighty percent and slashed at Mok Gyeong-un’s neck with an overbearing saber stroke.

-Fwoooosh!

The middle-aged man naturally assumed Mok Gyeong-un would throw himself backward to evade it.

But then,

-Clang!

‘!?’

In that instant, the middle-aged man could not hide his shock.

The reason was simple. Mok Gyeong-un had caught the blade of his willow-leaf saber with nothing but chopsticks.

‘Wh-what in the world is this brat…?’

While the man stood there flustered, Mok Gyeong-un looked not at him but at Gan Yang, who sat opposite him as the effective leader of the advance party, then curled his lips into a sinister smile and said,

“I do not think staying still will do anymore. Wouldn’t you agree?”