Chapter : 71
“Many people are going to be newly appointed this time—who do you think will be chosen?”
“Well, since the young lady has been estranged from the main house, won’t those with close ties to the Seong family—at least the ones she’s somewhat acquainted with—be given priority?”
“Ha! That’s unfair! If they’re going to appoint people, they should look at ability. How can they make personnel decisions based on personal feelings? If that’s the case, then nothing has changed from before.”
“Now, now, there’s no need to complain. Even if it’s temporary for now, the Internal Affairs Chief who’ll soon be officially instated has nothing to do with the Seong family, does he?”
To be precise, it would be more accurate to say his relationship with them was actually poor.
Unlike the generous and affable Seong Yeon-taek, the current Internal Affairs Chief was quick with calculations and nitpicked every little thing—they simply didn’t get along.
“That’s true. Let’s wait and see. We can complain after we’ve seen who gradually fills the positions. Besides… well, even if things don’t go our way, what then? Are you going to march over and demand to know why you weren’t chosen?”
“Haha! I wouldn’t do something so petty.”
Everyone believed that the old custom—where direct-line descendants occupied positions without merit, and collateral relatives survived solely by currying favor—would now disappear.
So, if you had ability, you could simply grow and rise according to that ability.
“How can the world change so drastically in such an instant?”
At someone’s offhand remark, the surroundings suddenly fell silent.
They were all thinking of the same person.
Those who had witnessed what happened in front of the main gate believed that the moment heaven and earth turned over truly came in a single instant. Those who had only heard about it added a touch of mystique, saying that legends always began that way.
“But have you heard? There are still people dissatisfied with the young lady’s actions, claiming that there was a handwritten secret letter from the Family Head, and asking why she ignored it—arguing that it was an act of insubordination that violated clan law.”
“That’s absolute nonsense! Regardless, the ones who caused trouble in the Alliance fled back to the main house—that alone tarnished the Namgung family’s reputation. And to say that the Family Head supported them? If anything, it was the Family Head who lost his sense of fairness and failed in his duty—”
“Ahem! Let’s stop talking about the Family Head. Whatever the case, he is still the highest elder of our clan. At the dinner banquet the young lady held the other day with those who will become the new pillars of the family, she said—”
The man who had begun speaking puffed out his chest proudly as his colleagues swallowed dryly and waited for the rest. He was the only one who had attended the banquet, so after savoring their attention for a moment, he continued.
“She said that the Family Head’s health has worsened considerably of late. Body and mind walk the same path—if the body collapses, so too does the mind. She asked that we understand if his judgment had become somewhat clouded.”
“Ah, as expected!”
“So there was a reason. After all, how could he have done such a thing in his right mind?”
“In that case, it would be unreasonable to say the young lady committed insubordination or violated clan law.”
“Exactly! That’s what everyone said after the banquet. However… even so, there were those who kept insisting that the crimes committed in the Alliance by the Great Elder and his son were merely mistakes made during succession training, and that the young lady exposed them as a move to check the Eldest Young Master.”
As everyone’s expressions darkened, one person stepped forward and added,
“That’s still just an internal succession struggle within the main house. I, however, heard something else. The Seventh Elder, who was recently imprisoned, claimed that when the young lady first arrived, she subdued the Great Elder and captured the Eldest Young Master like a beast, throwing him in jail—all because she relied on her authority as a member of the Alliance’s Inspection Unit.”
Otherwise, how could she, merely as the legitimate daughter, stand against the Great Elder who possessed the Family Head’s handwritten secret letter?
“If she used the authority of an Inspection Unit member—an organization belonging to the Alliance—in a succession dispute, wouldn’t that be breaking a taboo? If they latch onto that, it’ll be troublesome.”
Now left with only pure concern, those who had been fretting that something might happen to the young lady finally calmed down.
They looked at one another and came to an understanding.
“The young lady has changed many things since she arrived, hasn’t she? Perhaps our way of thinking is too rigid.”
“That’s right! Of course, clan law must be upheld, and the Family Head’s orders should take precedence over any other means. But beyond manpower, there are certainly matters that must be considered in light of cause and righteousness. For now, let’s wait for the young lady’s word. I believe she wouldn’t have made the wrong choice!”
They nodded to one another, then looked up at the sky in surprise.
“Oh! It’s already this late… I’d better get back to work.”
“Indeed. We only meant to rest briefly, but somehow half a shichen has already passed.”
They rose one by one and dispersed toward their respective workplaces, their chatter continuing noisily as they went.
After everyone had left, a middle-aged man suddenly appeared where they had been standing, glaring displeasedly in the direction they’d gone.
“There was never such a current within the clan before. How did it become so frivolous?”
Muttering resentfully, the man resumed walking once the path ahead cleared.
The place Du Jangseong, Senior Officer of the Personnel Hall, headed to was completely different from the bustling atmosphere within the clan.
A heavy, subdued air weighed down the room, where anxious-looking men sat.
“Six? Why are there only this many?”
“…Those who actively cooperated with the Great Elder have already all been captured, and those who associated with the Eldest Young Master were swept up in the former Internal Affairs Chief’s exposé, weren’t they?”
Only those who had affixed their signatures to the petition right before the young lady arrived remained like this.
Du Jangseong burst out in frustration.
“We should have waited just one more day! Why did we have to sign the petition the day before? Even the General Manager was supposed to join us that day, but couldn’t come because something came up—he promised to join the next day and skipped it…!”
And thanks to that, hadn’t he survived?
“We had only just joined, and our existence wasn’t widely known. If we can just find and destroy the petition, then no matter who points fingers, we can feign ignorance.”
“Where on earth could it be hidden? We’ve searched everywhere the Great Elder and the Eldest Young Master used to frequent, but it’s not there. The most likely place is the Family Head’s residence where it was last kept—but since the young lady is staying there, we can’t even approach.”
If they had solid information, they would risk danger no matter the location—but for now, they didn’t even have a lead to pursue.
“We have to find it by any means. The longer this drags on, the more likely our names will be mentioned.”
As they were deep in thought, they suddenly stiffened.
“Are you all here?”
Someone uninvited had arrived.
And it was the very person they had just mentioned—the General Manager, Hong Gye-mun.
“What brings you here, General Manager?”
Du Jangseong’s tone sharpened, but Hong Gye-mun sat down awkwardly.
“Weren’t we almost in the same boat? I came because I was worried about you all.”
At his words, not only Du Jangseong but also the Head of the Judicial Hall, Namgung Juseok, and the others hardened their expressions.
“You slipped away by luck while we got caught—did you come to mock us?”
Hong Gye-mun hurriedly waved his hands.
“I didn’t board the ship, that’s all. No one is unaware that I frequently associated with the two senior officers. If you fall into danger, I won’t be safe either.”
“So what are you suggesting? That we stamp our seals again promising to keep our mouths shut? Don’t even dream of it—I will never do such a thing again in my life, haha!”
Hong Gye-mun shook his head, his face stiff.
“That’s not it. If the petition disappears, you’ll be safe—and since I’m connected to you, I’ll have a way to survive as well, won’t I?”
Bang.
Namgung Juseok, the Head of the Judicial Hall, slammed his palm on the table.
“Stop circling around and speak plainly!”
“…In that case, I’ve found information about the petition.”
All eyes snapped to Hong Gye-mun at once.
Under their piercing gazes, he unconsciously swallowed dryly.
And a few days later—
A group of people infiltrated the Family Head’s residence.
Having learned the time when Yeonhwa and Yu Geon-myeong would be out, they had no choice but to move during the day and were therefore even more cautious.
As they entered the residence grounds, someone stepped out from behind a tree planted along the path some distance away.
“They actually fell for it.”
Hearing Yeonhwa’s mutter beside him, Yu Geon-myeong barely suppressed a laugh.
Behind the two of them, standing where the Family Head’s residence was clearly visible, the number of people gathering gradually increased.
They had been scattered nearby and came together at the signal of the two appearing.
“When should we strike?” Seong Yeon-taek asked.
“Is there any need? If we wait, they’ll come out on their own. Just leave them be.”
As soon as the Judicial Hall group emerged empty-handed, Seong Yeon-taek spotted the General Manager standing there with the young lady, wearing a smug expression, and nearly choked with rage.
Fortunately—though “fortunately” might not be quite the right word—it didn’t escalate to that degree.
At least, from Seong Yeon-taek’s perspective.
