After finishing his discussion with the Grand Tutor, the Junior Tutor, and the other teachers of the Crown Prince’s household at the lecture hall, Igang was just emerging when a eunuch came running. It was a palace eunuch who served the Emperor.
“His Majesty bids you come to the side hall in half an hour, Your Highness.”
The audience that had been postponed day after day was at last arranged, yet Igang was not pleased. In truth, since returning from Yangju, he had requested a private audience with the Emperor several times. But the Emperor had never once answered his requests for a private audience — and now, out of the blue, through a eunuch, came word to come to the side hall. Had the Emperor meant to grant his request and allow a private audience to discuss state affairs, he would have formally summoned him to the grand hall. But sending a eunuch to bid him come to the side hall meant that today’s meeting was a private audience between father and son, not an official audience to discuss state affairs.
Of course, that did not mean he intended to simply pay his respects and exchange pleasantries as the Emperor wished. Before heading to the side hall, Igang stopped by the Eastern Palace and gathered the documents he had prepared in advance: the reports and records concerning the Yanggang flood-control works, and a memorial impeaching the official in charge, Gwangpyeong.
But the moment he arrived at the side hall, Igang sensed that today’s audience would never go as he wished. For Prime Minister Jo emerged from the audience chamber’s doors a step ahead of him. Judging by his not-unpleasant expression, whatever it was had gone quite well. What was more–
“Oh, Your Highness. You have come. His Majesty is waiting for you.”
At the sight of Igang, he even smiled leisurely as he said it, and went on his way with an easy stride.
Today’s a lost cause.
Igang clicked his tongue inwardly and entered the audience chamber. The Emperor sat at his desk, head bowed, lost in thought; even hearing Igang enter, he did not look up. With one arm propped on the desk and his temple pressed firmly, he was deep in thought. Toward the Emperor, Igang performed a formal bow and offered his greetings.
Only then did the Emperor gesture with his chin toward the opposite chair and say:
“Sit.”
Igang sat, deliberately setting his documents down with a sound.
“What is that?”
The Emperor said, still pressing his temple.
“It concerns the report on the Yanggang flood-control works, Your Majesty.”
“Is that not a matter for the state council?”
“Before it is taken up by the state council, there is a proposal for which I would receive Your Majesty’s sanction, so I have brought it.”
The Emperor gave no answer. Gazing silently at the rather thick stack of documents, he asked his son after a moment:
“Does it concern Prime Minister Jo?”
“It does, Your Majesty.”
Igang answered at once. The Emperor fell silent again. Only after a long while did he say, in an utterly subdued voice:
“Today, this sovereign is not feeling well. I shall hear the report another time. You may withdraw.”
Had he truly been unwell, he would not have summoned him to the hall in the first place — but one could not presume to reason with the Emperor. Nor could one defy an imperial command. Igang rose without a word.
“This son shall obey your command and withdraw.”
After a deep bow, he turned and left the audience chamber. Of course, he left the documents on the table just as they were.
“Your Highness!”
The moment he stepped out of the side hall, he came face to face with Yuyeong and Ichi. They must have come upon hearing that he had headed to the audience chamber with documents.
“So soon, Your Highness?”
At Yuyeong’s puzzled question, Igang said in a level voice:
“His Majesty is unwell. He bade me withdraw for today, so I paid my respects and came out.”
While Yuyeong frowned with a “What?”, Ichi said with a stiff face:
“I just saw Prime Minister Jo before the Geonmun Gate. Could it be…”
“Who can say?”
Igang said briefly. In truth it was all too obvious, but for now he wished to pretend not to know. The two retainers seemed to understand his feelings, and only bowed their heads without another word.
“Then, will you return directly to the Eastern Palace, Your Highness?”
Yuyeong asked, raising his head again. When Igang did not answer, Ichi spoke first this time.
“If not, the sun is fine — would you care for a stroll? There is no evening lecture today, so it has been a while; going out hunting would be another way.”
Watching his retainers strive to find him some diversion, Igang smiled briefly instead of answering. After a moment’s thought, he set off first, saying:
“Let us go to Inyeong Palace.”
Leave a Reply