Chapter 65
Speaking the Truth
The next day, in the pavilion of Biwol.
Under the watchful eyes of officials from each department, the interrogation began. Gomi led the questioning herself, while Taesu and Yeom Yugwang were tied up with ropes and subjected to the investigation.
As expected, Taesu denied all charges.
He claimed that all the gifts he received from Yeom Yugwang were just harmless presents, and Yeom Yugwang echoed his stance.
The ministers supporting the Second Prince scoffed.
“Treating a local governor as a criminal based only on suspicion? By that logic, who here isn’t a criminal?”
“Inspector, show us concrete evidence at once!”
Gomi, who had anticipated such reactions, didn’t flinch.
The ministers supporting the Crown Prince spoke up.
“Giving and receiving bribes seems to be your daily routine, is it not? Two gold toads, each worth over a hundred nyang, as gifts! Outrageous!”
“There is no quid pro quo, I said!”
“Whether there is or isn’t will be revealed through the interrogation. Stop interfering and be quiet!”
“Your voice is louder than mine!”
“What did you say? Watch your mouth!”
As both sides raised their voices, continuing the interrogation became increasingly difficult.
‘Even these people are squandering the people’s taxes.’
Ihwan felt exasperated. Watching the ministers from the Second Prince’s side blatantly trying to obstruct the interrogation made him quietly angry.
At that moment, a stir came from the back. Second Prince Itaeji entered the interrogation hall.
Ihwan looked at Itaeji’s face.
‘Seeing him in person, he looks even more ruthless than I imagined.’
Though Ihwan had never met him before, Itaeji had been imprinted in his memory as the worst kind of man.
Itaeji sneered at Gomi.
“The Moon Lord of Biwol serving as an inspector? Since when can anyone just take such a position?”
“I merely follow the orders of His Highness the Crown Prince,” Gomi replied.
Before Itaeji could continue, Gomi turned to Ihwan and gave a command.
“Bring in the witness!”
“Yes.”
Cheol Muok and Jutae went inside. Everyone focused on where they had entered.
Taesu and Yeom Yugwang exchanged uneasy glances.
Taesu whispered,
“Has anyone been taken there?”
“No. And from your side?”
“My nephew, Wang Ji-gyeong, who went to visit, has not returned. But don’t worry. He…”
Taesu’s words halted as his eyes widened. Yeom Yugwang also instinctively turned toward the room Cheol Muok and Jutae had entered.
Someone was being brought out.
Their hair was disheveled, obscuring their face, but judging by Taesu’s reaction, it had to be his nephew.
“You little… what’s going on? Why are you—”
It was as expected.
The general who had gone to Wang Ji-gyeong’s house silently sat before Taesu and Yeom Yugwang.
Gomi began questioning him. After a moment of silence, the general suddenly raised his voice at the critical point.
“I was simply following Taesu’s orders. I never pocketed bribes received from the Hwangryong Trading Company for personal gain.”
“Did you hand all of them over to Taesu then?”
“Some I gave directly, some I placed in the secret treasury. You can check the ledgers there!”
Taesu’s eyes widened in shock.
“You! Can’t you keep your mouth shut? What nonsense are you spouting?”
“Stop him!”
“Yes!”
Cheol Muok stepped forward and gagged Taesu.
“Ugh! Ugh!”
Gomi asked again,
“You yourself called them bribes. Explain why you think that.”
“How could treasures worth over a million nyang in silver be considered mere gifts? Even a child would laugh at it.”
There was a stir! Even the ministers of the Second Prince murmured at the remark.
Itaeji’s expression showed anxiety, and Ihwan watched, smiling faintly.
[Time to wrap this up.]
Responding to Ihwan’s mental command, Gomi looked at the ministers and said,
“After investigation, there is no evidence that bribes went above Taesu. Therefore, I request severe punishment for Taesu Jangbo and Yeom Yugwang of Hwangryong Trading Company!”
At that moment, Ihwan saw it:
The relief in Itaeji’s eyes.
And not only him. Some ministers exchanged looks of relief as well.
They were all ministers of the Second Prince, relieved that the case wouldn’t reach Itaeji himself.
Then—
“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!”
Everyone stood. Itaeji reluctantly rose as well.
Crown Prince Iso entered the interrogation hall.
The sentence would be his to give.
Iso slowly glanced over the ministers, then turned to Gomi.
“Inspector, write down their crimes and report them to me. I will issue the sentence after reviewing it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Iso left the interrogation hall. Before leaving, Kwan Jibaek gave Ihwan a slight smile.
[Thank you for your hard work, Daegun.]
Two days earlier.
Ihwan personally interrogated Taesu’s nephew, the general.
Beforehand, he had assessed that the young general held resentment toward his uncle Taesu and had strong ambitions for advancement.
“If you tell the truth, the gold ingots from Lord Wang’s house will be forgiven. But heed this warning: if you foolishly claim loyalty to your uncle and stay silent, you’ll take the blame alone.”
“…!”
“What do you think will happen then?”
Cheol Muok chimed in,
“Execution by beheading, of course. Or worse, someone unlucky could face death by boiling for even minor crimes.”
The general’s face turned pale.
Boiling involved placing the criminal in a cauldron. In reality, it was often lukewarm water, but from then on, the condemned were treated as dead—an honor-bound punishment.
However, in Yeon Dynasty times, they really were boiled alive.
This reflected the emperor’s determination to eradicate corruption.
Ihwan added subtly,
“We don’t care about petty people like you. In truth, you must obey your uncle. If you confess, you’ll be freed immediately. His Highness the Crown Prince promised this.”
“You… the Crown Prince promised?”
At that moment, Kwan Jibaek entered.
Without a mask, the general recognized him instantly.
“His Highness already knows everything. If you tell the truth, you won’t be punished.”
“Really, General?”
“Trust me.”
Among young generals, Kwan Jibaek was considered a hero. Before joining the Crown Prince’s court, he had forged countless victories, becoming a living legend in the military.
Hearing him, the general broke down and revealed what Gomi had not discovered.
Ihwan, Iso, and Kwan Jibaek gathered.
“Hahaha!” Iso laughed continuously.
Kwan Jibaek, seeing Iso so amused, felt grateful toward Ihwan.
Iso asked,
“What do you think? What punishment should be given?”
“Taesu aside, the head of Hwangryong Trading will probably be pardoned once the Empress returns. Can it be stopped?”
“No matter how influential the Empress is, a pardon cannot be granted lightly. The Emperor holds absolute authority on pardons, so meddling recklessly could backfire.”
“Then we should give the maximum sentence possible. Also, restore the trade rights and routes taken by the Song family. Any illegal materials seized by Hwangryong Trading are with the Moon Lord, so that’s not an issue.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Kwan Jibaek cautiously asked,
“What about Wang Ji-gyeong? Isn’t he as villainous as the head of Hwangryong Trading?”
“Use the enemy to control the enemy.”
Ihwan continued,
“Wang Ji-gyeong will become the Crown Prince’s most reliable source of funds—legally, of course.”
Iso and Kwan Jibaek’s eyes widened.
“Was this already decided?”
“At least three million nyang in silver per year. That should help considerably in dealing with the Empress.”
“Hahaha!”
Kwan Jibaek laughed awkwardly, astonished. Ihwan stood and added,
“Take care of my sister. Even if illegitimate, she is my only sister. I trust you.”
“Already leaving?”
“Time in the Crown Prince’s palace feels like a year in a day.”
Ihwan grabbed his sword and headed for the door.
Iso called after him,
“Maknae.”
Ihwan paused. Hearing that, his chest tightened.
“Thank you. I owe you a great debt.”
“Think of it as a debt. Once you ascend to the throne, repay it properly with interest after defeating the Empress.”
Ihwan left the Crown Prince’s palace with that.
‘What is this feeling…?’
It was strange, as if he truly felt a brotherly bond with Iso.
He frowned shortly after.
‘This place is definitely not comfortable.’
Two days later.
Ihwan sat opposite Wang Ji-gyeong, who wore a glum expression.
“Are you really leaving?”
“What choice do I have? His Highness the Crown Prince entrusted me with an important mission.”
“It’s a cause for celebration, but what am I to do without you? That Yeom Yugwang will try to kill me even from prison.”
“Trust the three new friends I’ve brought. They’ll protect you from any assassin, and treat you as they would me.”
“Of course! My life depends on it.”
Ihwan assigned three members of the Dowang Ilmaek as bodyguards, ensuring someone stayed close to Wang Ji-gyeong for easier handling later.
“Then prosper.”
“Wait a moment.”
Wang Ji-gyeong went to another room and returned with a small gold box.
“It’s not much, but it’s my token. Please accept it.”
“What is this?”
“Open it later. It will be useful.”
“Then I’ll gratefully accept.”
Ihwan left. Many from Wang Ji-gyeong’s mansion, including the guards, accompanied him to the main gate.
Ihwan told the Dowang Ilmaek youth,
“Make those friends strong. It will make your lives easier.”
“Understood!”
Following Ihwan, Cheol Muok and Jutae mounted their horses.
“If you come to the capital, send word! We’ll be waiting!”
Wang Ji-gyeong followed for a while. To him, Ihwan was a nobleman, not just a bodyguard—the one the skilled fortune-teller had mentioned.
Ihwan rode slowly.
Who was he waiting for? Cheol Muok occasionally glanced back.
“Shouldn’t we wait?”
“That’s why we go slowly.”
“….”
Then—
Thud thud thud!
From behind, a rider raised a cloud of dust, galloping like a storm. Ihwan smiled faintly just from the sound of the hooves.
“Becoming a noble is impossible for you.”
Thud thud thud!
It was Gomi.
“Sorry! I was delayed by urgent business!”
She wore Biwol attire.
“His Highness the Crown Prince instructed me to give this to you.”
Ihwan accepted the message pipe she handed him and tucked it inside his coat.
“Coming along?”
“Of course, Daegun.”
“Then let’s go.”
Thud thud thud!
