“Congratulations, Your Highness.”
Yuyeong stood before the door of the room offering congratulations. Ichi, who had been walking in without a thought, hurriedly bowed as well.
“Congratulations!”
“Hearing that greeting a third time, I’m bored of it.”
Igang laughed it off and removed his crown. As he handed the removed crown to Yuyeong, the latter received it respectfully, bowing his head.
“For the fourth, I’ll think up a fresher greeting.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“So,” Igang said, removing the ceremonial knee-cover from his waist as he asked directly.
“How did he look, seen in bright light?”
“The one who painted that portrait should lose not his hand but his neck.” Ichi said bluntly. At that unrestrained expression, Igang burst out laughing.
“That bad?”
“How could he paint one so beautiful in such a — I mean, in such a manner?”
“Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to call him beautiful.”
Igang said, still smiling. He tossed the removed sash and ornaments carelessly into a corner of the room, then sat in the chair.
“He only looked splendid today because of all the adornment; he’s originally a far plainer-looking fellow. I couldn’t exactly call him a beauty.”
“Though compared to that portrait, he’s peerlessly beautiful.” He added solemnly, and Yuyeong smiled, picking up the jade pendant that had fallen to the floor.
“Even without comparing him to that portrait, isn’t he beautiful enough? As Your Highness said, he wasn’t a beauty of flamboyant impression, but there was a serene, elegant air about him, like a still pond.”
“Really?”
Igang asked back, feigning ignorance. Yuyeong answered yes, and setting the jade pendant he had picked up on the table, added, “Perhaps his voice made him seem even more so.”
“At night it’s dark, so the voice carries better, doesn’t it? He spoke only a few words, yet his voice was so pleasant to hear I marveled the whole time.”
“Yes, his voice is fine.”
Igang nodded. Whatever else, about that voice there could be no disagreement.
“Moreover, last night it was dark so I couldn’t tell, but seeing him in bright light, his walk and bearing were so graceful, and even his seated posture carried such dignity, that I thought — royalty is royalty indeed.”
“That’s true as well.” As Igang nodded even more largely, Ichi abruptly cut in.
“But the talk of his frail health seems true. I didn’t notice yesterday, but seeing him today, he looked like a mere skewer — I mean, he seemed terribly gaunt; I was quite startled.”
“No, he wasn’t originally like that.”
At least, he wasn’t when I saw him ten days ago. He was fairly tall with a slender build — he gave an impression of being slim, not thin. But seeing him today, as Ichi said, he was terribly gaunt, which quite startled me.
His complexion was pale, and with rouge applied, his face looked all the paler for the redness of his lips. Perhaps it was also because he hadn’t slept a wink all night and looked more tired…
“Well, it’s for the best,” Igang said calmly.
“Everyone saw how he looked today, so if he were to suddenly fall ill and die one day, no one would find it strange.”
“Your Highness… whatever else, what kind of words are those from one who wed today?” At Yuyeong’s sigh-laced words, Igang raised an eyebrow. “Are they?”
“And who was it that just now said he’d think up a fresher greeting for the fourth wedding?”
“That was about the grand wedding.”
“Smoothly dodged.”
“By the way, it seems Minister Jo has noticed that Your Highness went to Giju.”
“You dodge well, don’t you.”
“No, I truly just thought of it now.” Igang laughed as if dumbfounded at Yuyeong’s composure. But he didn’t dislike this brazen side of Yuyeong. Deciding to let it pass, Igang said “Fine,” and leaned his arm on the armrest.
“It seems the man sent by the Giju magistrate arrived at dawn today. Jo Ga told me right before the wedding ceremony. He said the malt wine still has long to mature, so for now I should enjoy the fragrance of the fine wine.”
Giju had been famous since olden times for its fertile land and delicious rice. Wine brewed from Giju rice was especially renowned for its deep fragrance and rich flavor. Hyangju, on the other hand, lay north of the capital and grew more wheat than rice. Wine brewed with malt made from wheat was called malt wine — and Minister Jo, declaring he would go to Hyangju for treasury recovery, was in fact politely mocking the Crown Prince, who had headed for Giju.
“You’ve got to hand it to his nerve. To have the leisure for such remarks even now.”
“It means he’s got something to rely on.”
Though Giju was but a small rural town, for fertility of land it rivaled any grain district. And yet the Giju magistrate petitioned every year, unable to bear the state-fixed tribute, and borrowed money from the state to run his offices. Nevertheless, when the treasury recovery policy was decided on Igang’s proposal, the Emperor declared he would entrust the southern regions including Giju to Hyeong So, the Grand Minister of Agriculture. Hyeong So had worked under Minister Jo since his youth, and Giju was where Minister Jo’s family home stood — more than half the paddies and fields there belonged to the Jo family. To appoint Hyeong So as the man in charge, knowing all this full well, was effectively to turn a blind eye to the embezzlement being carried out in Giju.
Igang knew well, of course, why his father was uniquely lenient toward Minister Jo. That he, the fifth of twelve princes, had survived the horrific fratricidal strife and risen to the throne at last was largely thanks to Jo Won-il, then a vice minister. Not forgetting that merit, his father had appointed Jo Won-il as minister the moment he ascended, and taken his younger sister Jo Won-jin as Sukbi. When his principal wife, Empress Hyohye, died, he elevated Consort Jo to Empress and appointed her elder brother, Minister Jo, to State Councilor, the highest among ministers. Though Minister Jo adamantly declined and his post remained minister, the people already called him Councilor Jo. Small wonder, then, that when Igang, the third prince, was invested as Crown Prince over the second prince — Minister Jo’s nephew and Empress Jo’s own son — every high minister of the court was astonished. Even Igang’s own retainers, Yuyeong included, were all surprised.
“I took it to mean you would no longer stand by while this court danced in Minister Jo’s palm…”
“Once I am Emperor, so it shall be.”
But not while His Majesty holds the throne, he meant. Igang said, pressing his temple with his fingertip.
“Investing me as Crown Prince is one thing; Minister Jo’s past merit is another.” Perhaps that was why he wished all the more to overlook the embezzlement in Giju. Having already deeply wounded Minister Jo’s feelings over the investiture, he would not want to rake up even such trifling faults to reproach him.
“But the sum is too large to call a trifling fault. The debts recorded in the ledgers alone amount to two hundred thirty thousand nyang in gold, and including what was omitted, it exceeds six hundred thousand. That’s just Giju — rake through the other provincial offices run by the Jo family’s underlings, and it will easily surpass a million.” At Yuyeong’s words, Ichi cried out, “Quite right!”
“Where do you think it all went? I don’t believe it was used merely to fatten the Jo family’s coffers. Just look at the private soldiers they keep at that family home. Feeding and clothing them all would take far more than a coin or two.”
“Hold on — they keep private soldiers at Minister Jo’s family home?” Yuyeong asked, eyes wide as if hearing it for the first time.
“Don’t get me started. Four hundred of them, they say.”
“Exactly! What could they possibly need four hundred private soldiers for in that country house? This surely means they have other intentions!”
After a moment of gaping in surprise, Yuyeong quickly regained his composure and said in a calm voice.
“Admittedly, that is many for mere guards. But far too few to raise an army.”
“True.”
Igang nodded shortly. Straightening his leaning posture, he added in a low voice.
“But if all other preparations are thoroughly in place, private soldiers need not be many. As the old saying goes, with a thousand elite troops there is nothing under heaven to fear. And though it is only four hundred now, who knows how many more they will gather henceforth.”
“By the time I ascend the throne, they may have easily surpassed a thousand.” Igang said with a calm face.
“Which is why we can’t just stand by and watch. If we use this well, we won’t even need to wait until next year. We could seize that Jo fellow and crush him right now — what are you hesitating for?” To Ichi, who beat his chest in frustration, Yuyeong said in his usual calm tone.
“Nothing in this world is as easy as words make it. Especially a matter of such gravity must not be spoken of rashly. Minister Jo currently receives the treatment of a State Councilor. With such power, none would dare call it excessive if he commanded not four hundred private soldiers but four thousand. The treasury embezzlement is the same. First, we must prove that the six hundred thousand nyang siphoned from the Giju county office flowed to Minister Jo.
But the magistrate went so far as to take poison rather than reveal it, so it will by no means be easy.” Having said that much, Yuyeong fell silent for a moment. Then, gauging Igang’s mood, he carefully continued.
“Above all, His Majesty’s favor toward Minister Jo is immense. Even if the embezzlement were proven, he would at most be advised to retire from office himself. Moreover, if any unlawful act were committed in the course of investigating Minister Jo’s embezzlement, His Majesty might use it as grounds to reproach Your Highness instead.”
“Yuyeong is right.” Igang nodded.
Above all, mere embezzlement cannot depose the Empress. Seizing Jo Won-il alone will accomplish nothing.
“The Empress must be driven out together with him. Leaving either one behind renders it meaningless. It would only give the other a chance to sharpen their blade.”
“We need one big thing.” Igang said, folding his arms.
“An excessive number of private soldiers, an embezzlement sum nearing a million nyang — these are matters that carry weight only when presented as a single body of evidence; in themselves they are mere trifling flaws. We need something that can bind these together and be held up as proof of treason.” Yuyeong, who had been listening, muttered as if to himself.
“Then this time, let us first make use of Her Highness the Crown Princess…”
“Now see here, Yuyeong.”
Igang cut him off, putting on a grave face as he said.
“Even for you, isn’t that a bit much, in front of a man who wed today?”
Ichi couldn’t stifle his laughter at seeing the Crown Prince throw Yuyeong’s own words back at him, not a syllable off. Yuyeong bowed his head with an embarrassed face. “My apologies.”
“I have made a great slip of the tongue.”
“Indeed. A very great slip.”
Igang scolded in a stern voice, then leaned back against his chair and said.
“Though, of course, there’s no surer method than that.” Ichi’s laughter grew louder. Yuyeong shook his head as if giving up, smiling. Waiting for his two retainers’ laughter to subside, Igang rested his arm on the table and said, “For now, let’s watch a while longer.”
“From what I’ve seen, the royal younger brother — no, the Crown Princess now. In any case, he seems to know he won’t remain in the Crown Princess’s seat for long.”
“Truly?”
Ichi asked back, surprised.
“Yes. During the wedding earlier, he looked to be having such a hard time that I said to him — if you’re struggling this much, how will you manage the grand wedding?”
“And what did he say to that…?”
“He smiled.”
And not just smiled — he smiled thinly, as if he’d heard something most entertaining, and it was so unfathomably deep it was almost chilling.
“Hmm… so he didn’t come here knowing nothing.” Yuyeong mused.
“Right. If he knows the situation here, he must roughly guess why the Empress chose him as Crown Princess, and for the same reason, he must fully know that one day I will depose him.”
“Then, is there a chance he might side with the Empress’s wishes and threaten Your Highness’s safety…”
“None.”
Igang said flatly.
“He’s not the sort, and even if he tried to take part in such a thing, it would show on his face at once.”
“That much?”
“He has no talent for lying whatsoever.”
“At that point it’s not that he won’t, it’s that he can’t,” Igang said, and Yuyeong sighed, “What a pity.”
“It’s the most necessary virtue for surviving in this palace.”
“Unfortunate for him, but fortunate for me.” At his smiling words, Ichi, who had been listening quietly beside them, said in a careful tone, “But, Your Highness.”
“They say you may know the water ten fathoms deep, but not a man’s heart one fathom. I beg you not to let your guard down.”
“You state the obvious.” Igang smiled, one eyebrow raised.
“How could I claim to know him fully from just a few words exchanged? And even his lack of talent for lying could itself be a lie, so vigilance is only proper.” At his firm tone, Ichi bowed his head with a frightened face.
“Forgive me. I have dared to speak out of turn. Forgive this sinner who dared to lecture his lord.”
Seeing Ichi about to smash his forehead on the table, Yuyeong made an ‘oh, this man again’ face. Quickly lifting Ichi’s arm, he said,
“Your Highness already knows that Ichi spoke out of utmost loyalty.” “Yes, Ichi. Forget about smashing the innocent table and sit up straight.” When Ichi still couldn’t raise his head, Igang promptly changed the subject.
“By the way, you two — just because it’s the third time, you think you can get away with empty congratulations and no wedding gift?”
“Your Highness, I have given that much thought.” Yuyeong quickly picked up the thread.
“Will Your Highness not wed at least twice more in the future? Rather than agonizing each time over what different gift to give Your Highness, wouldn’t it be better to devote that time to working hard for Your Highness, and present the gifts to Her Highness the Crown Princess instead? Whether given to Your Highness or to Her Highness, it all becomes imperial property anyway. Therefore,”
“In short, you plan to recycle the same gift among the crown princesses.”
“Your Highness, even so, to say ‘recycle’… those words are too… yes, it’s true.” Yuyeong admitted it. Igang snorted as if dumbfounded, then fell into thought for a moment before asking Yuyeong.
“So were you planning to give a painting again this time?”
“I thought a painting would be best… but if there’s something else you’d prefer, I’ll prepare that instead.”
“No, a painting is good. Bring a painting.”
“Then, a landscape by Sunchan, as before—”
“No. Bring erotic paintings.”
Yuyeong’s eyes went wide. “Pardon?” Beside him, Ichi’s head snapped up too. “D-did you say erotic paintings?”
“Yes. A twenty-four-panel set.”
“Your Highness, forgive my impertinence, but… are there not already more than enough erotic paintings in the palace?”
“The palace’s are too tame.”
“I need ones drawn more explicitly and in finer detail.” At that, a bewildered Yuyeong asked, “Whatever do you intend to use such things for?”
“As teaching materials.”
At Igang’s words, Ichi and Yuyeong cried out together, “T-teaching materials?” Realizing at once whose teaching materials they would be, Yuyeong groaned, “Your Highness…”
“Even so, Her Highness the Crown Princess is twenty-four this year. Surely he can’t be ignorant of such things.”
“I assure you, Yuyeong.”
“He absolutely doesn’t know.” Igang said with a solemn face.
“…”
“I’d bet on it.”
“Hm?” Igang lowered his voice fully and asked. Yuyeong wore a long-troubled expression, then slowly rose from his seat. Bowing deeply, he said.
“I shall procure the erotic paintings. As commanded, the most explicit and finely detailed ones, a twenty-four-panel set, I shall obtain.”
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