Chapter 2 - Grasping at Straws

Upon seeing Geonwoon suppressing his fury, King Jeong tactfully said, “Since… this is quite a sensitive topic.”

Was he trying to say that this happened because the emperor coddled his daughter’s son too much? Geonwoon was perturbed to think that he was the strange one once again, but he silently pressured King Jeong to continue.

“I have never seen him properly, but… I have been told he resembles King Moon. He is extraordinary with the sublime appearance of a Xian[1] and the physique of a Daoist. He is as intelligent as he is wise, and humble without so much conceit.”

If everything he said was true, it was confusing how a prince like that was among the family. At the same time, such a humble and unpresuming man conspiring with Prime Minister Joo made him quite preposterous.

“And?”

“I do not know much. That is to say, I do not know if impertinent officials of the court are trying to enthrone him, or if he is showing his true nature of his own accord.”

Geonwoon was disappointed at King Jeong’s unhelpful words. He chugged the now-cold tea sitting before him. His broiling fury was not soothed by it, but Geonwoon suppressed as much emotion as he could. “Granduncle.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Geonwoon didn’t think King Jeong would be of much help, but this man was the only person he could depend on while the emperor was incapable and convalescing from his disease. He was disgusted at his reality, but he said to King Jeong with feigned indifference, “Whatever the case may be, His Imperial Majesty is still alive…”

“…”

“Wouldn’t you say that the insolent traitors cannot be ignored?”

“Y-yes, that is so.”

“I’ll take on the internal affairs of the Imperial Palace, so I ask that you assist me with the rest. It seems that I’ll need to reorganize, for the sake of His Majesty.”

“But, Your Highness, will you be all right? The opponent is…”

“You say he is an Extreme Yang with the prime minister at his back?”

King Jeong pressed his lips shut.

“Even so, there is nothing to fear. Rather, I have better justification to support my cause.”

“…”

“You know very well how His Majesty raised me, the only son of the crown princess.”

“That is true, but… you must brace yourself.”

King Jeong spoke with concern, but it seemed like he was merely showing sympathy for Geonwoon, who would ultimately be pushed out by Prime Minister Joo and Gyeonghwi. Seeing that, Geonwoon decided to show his granduncle the card up his sleeve.“Granduncle, you must think that I have no legs to stand on.”

“I do not mean that, I merely…”

Geonwoon sighed deeply and checked their surroundings once before whispering, “His Majesty gave me the token of the military once.”

“…”

“And I have yet to return it.”

“Then…”

“The military token is absolute. At least, it will be enough to command the grand guards and imperial guards to act.”

“Could I… perhaps see the token?” King Jeong cautiously asked, disbelieving Geonwoon. He knew that his brother cared for his grandson who was a carbon copy of the crown princess, but he was surprised to hear that the emperor trusted Geonwoon enough to leave him with the military token. As he did for his Yin daughter, the emperor could have appointed Geonwoon as the crown prince yet did not, giving him Wei Palace instead of the crown prince’s palace.

I thought His Majesty was testing Geonwoon, but perhaps he could not forget the crown princess.

Geonwoon brought over a small box and took out a token from within. The wooden badge was carved in the shape of a black tortoise and had the word “soldier” in red letters.

“Then…”

“His Majesty once said to me.”

Geonwoon’s words made King Jeong fidget nervously.

“…That trials and tribulations create heroes.”

Geonwoon’s eyes were burning with determination to hold onto what was rightfully his. King Jeong fell speechless and gawked dumbly at his young kin.

It was always the quiet ones, and Geonwoon was just that. King Jeong was reluctant to side with Geonwoon. The authority to command the military in Geonwoon’s hands was merely scrapwood in the hands of the powerless. The emperor was dying, and the ministers rejected the son of Imperial Princess Yeonhwa. Despite the token, nobody would follow the words of the man.

“Then, I leave this to you, Granduncle,” Geonwoon said, a warning to King Jeong to discard unproductive thoughts. King Jeong merely grinned awkwardly.

* * *

When an emperor without children stood on death’s doorstep or, conversely, when an emperor with too much progeny was meeting the reaper, blood flowed from the Imperial Palace.

As told by history, this situation was no different. The choices before Geonwoon, a Yang of the royal family, were much the case.

He had to survive to become the emperor or die.

Geonwoon had thought that his destiny would be decided soon. Perhaps he had weathered many things to date.

“The night is deep. May I suggest that you rest…?”

While Ryeon was out to prepare snacks, Eunuch Seonkang of Wei Palace could not hide his surprise at his master’s untoward actions. Now of all times, when Ryeon was not here… the eunuch considered running to find Ryeon right that instant to stop Geonwoon and made a long face.

However, Geonwoon was adamant. He said to the eunuch firmly, “It’s not deep at all. The sun is only starting to set.”

Depressing thoughts plagued Geonwoon the longer he was alone in his room, so he decided to see the emperor. He thought that his disturbed heart would feel at ease once he saw the condition of his grandfather and talked about heirship with him.

“How could I forego my evening visitation?”

“But Your Highness.”

“Cut your nonsense. If Ryeon was here, she would nag my ears off, so I am telling you while she stepped out,” Geonwoon said, reading Seonkang’s mind.

The eunuch could no longer dissuade Geonwoon. Geonwoon looked extremely unstable these days. He never had much of an appetite, but now, no matter how many different dishes were placed before him, all their efforts were in vain and he shed weight by the day. In addition, his desolate eyes tugged on the heartstrings of all.

“Do not worry. I know Ryeon’s concerns and yours. I know what rumors are circulating in this palace.”

“…”

“That’s why I must visit His Majesty more often. In the palace, the walls had eyes and ears, and many of those eyes will be on me. It’s in these times that I must demonstrate my loyalty and filial piety.”

Seonkang could no longer argue against Geonwoon. He couldn’t deny the truth of his master’s words and didn’t have the skill to persuade him. And so, Geonwoon headed to the emperor’s residence when the sunlight was dimming with the excuse of an evening visit.

“Y-Your Highness?”

Fortunately, the emperor’s wife and his consorts were not present at the time. Only the head eunuch, Hong Uiyin, and a few court ladies were guarding the dreary residence of the emperor.

The head eunuch couldn’t hide his surprise when Geonwoon made his appearance at the quarters.

“What brings you here at this late hour, Your Highness?”

“You say that as if I came to a place I am barred from.”

“T-that was not my intention—you had merely come without warning… Your Highness must be exhausted from tending to the state affairs in regency…”

Geonwoon wasn’t sure if it was right to call tending to affairs when he was sitting in the imperial chambers by himself, but he didn’t pick at the details.

“Filial piety is unconditional. If only I could stay by His Majesty’s side at all hours, I would.”

“I was short-sighted.”

“It’s fine.”

“Please grant me your forgiveness, Your Highness.”

Head Eunuch Hong groveled at the floor, to which Geonwoon clicked his tongue and waved his hand for the servant to get up. Eunuch Hong was one of the few who was genuinely faithful to the emperor. Nothing good would come out of punishing the eunuch.

“So, how is His Majesty’s condition?”

“He is no different from when you formally visited this morning.”

Geonwoon wasn’t sure if this was a good thing, but seeing that there was no change, he decided to move on. “All right. Then, how is my grandmother?”

“Her Majesty visited two hours ago to nurse His Majesty and returned to her palace.”

“I see.”

Geonwoon sighed in relief and continued on his way. Inside the deepest room where the emperor lay, the moment he opened the door, the pungent smell of a medicinal concoction and the stench reminiscent of a rotting corpse hit his nostrils. Geonwoon grimaced instantly. He shuddered at the air of death that hung in the room.

“What do the imperial physicians say as to when His Majesty will wake up?” distraught, Geonwoon asked Eunuch Hong, who followed behind him.

The eunuch’s shoulders slumped as he replied, “They merely repeat that everything is in the hands of the heavens. They say that the only way to supplement his vitality is to continue acupuncture and medicine.”

“Incompetent fools,” Geonwoon spat and approached the emperor. It wasn’t strange for the emperor, now only skin and bones, to die then and there. That was probably why the physicians said that. They visited several times a day, but there was no progress—they merely poured their efforts to maintain the current state. Perhaps the emperor’s soul already crossed the river of death and was wandering in limbo.

Why now?

Geonwoon clenched his jaws and fell into despair. He flaunted his token in front of King Jeong as a bluff, but he couldn’t find a way around this obstacle. If his grandfather lived, if he opened his eyes for Geonwoon one last time… Geonwoon thought back to his life of struggles and sacrifices to escape his ill fate.

Can’t you survive for your pitiful grandson one last time?

Millions of thoughts flashed through Geonwoon’s head. He stood there, gazing down at the emperor, unable to leave the emperor’s side for a while. Eunuch Hong was about to speak to Geonwoon in concern when the emperor’s eyelids fluttered open, revealing his wide, bloodshot eyes as he called Geonwoon’s name.