Chapter Index

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    I don’t know what happened in the training hall after the two people were left alone and what the conclusion was.

    I just came back after that and locked myself in my room.

    And with no way of knowing the outcome, court ladies flocked to Busan from dawn the next day and trembled.

    “His Majesty the Emperor said he would hold an audience tomorrow.”

    Practice for the audience ceremony, which had been suspended for a while, including trying to match the audience uniform, began to be repeated endlessly due to cramming. The court ladies returned to their strict appearance from the first time I met them, and I also frantically acquired the knowledge necessary for an audience.

    I couldn’t help but wonder what conclusion Yu-kyung and Hyuk Kirin had reached and how much progress Hyuk Kirin had made, but it was such a forced march that even that curiosity became blurred.

    After eating dinner and going to bed, I lay down in bed and fell asleep due to exhaustion, and it was the day of the audience.

    It was not until it was time to go to the palace hall wearing full audience attire that I was finally able to meet Hyeok Kirin. When I tried to open my mouth, I couldn’t speak because the court ladies glared at me, but Hyeok Kirin’s expression didn’t seem worried, so I was a little relieved.

    It was a failure to see through Hyeok Kirin’s martial arts skills.

    In the first place, it is impossible for me, a first-class person, to see through the highest level of martial arts with keen eye. In any case, there must have been quite a bit of progress, as I saw that I had more energy.

    It remains to be seen whether or not the Hwagyeong has been reached.

    If a second-class warrior had to walk ten steps to reach a first-class warrior, then it could be said that a supreme warrior had to walk a thousand steps to reach a supreme warrior. If you achieve enlightenment at a low level, you will ascend to the realm, but reaching the peak level and above often ends only with an increase in martial arts.

    “Please wait quietly.”

    A real eunuch, not a fake eunuch like Du Jak or Sima Huijing, appeared and guided us to the waiting room. I was wondering if I could finally talk to Hyuk Kirin, but it was in a private room again.

    After seeing Hyuk Kirin, I became more curious about how yesterday’s events ended. What conclusion did Hyeok Kirin and Dujak, or rather Yugyeong, come to?

    If it had ended positively, the period of time to prepare for the audience at the palace would have been maximized. If the two have reconciled, I hope they can last one more day. It would have been possible to wait at least a few more days, but the sudden decision to hold an audience was not a positive sign.

    But Hyeok Kirin’s face was extremely peaceful.

    Could it be that Hyuk Kirin has decided to cut off ties with the imperial family and live only as a martial artist?

    That wasn’t impossible.

    If that happens, I will be the one who separated Yu-kyung and Hyeok-ki-rin.

    hmm.

    Should we also consider the possibility that Jakdu is waiting in the center of Daejeon?

    Naturally, as worries about the audience ceremony filled my mind, all kinds of really harsh thoughts came into my head.

    “It’s your turn soon. Please prepare.”

    The eunuch gave his final request in a rapid-fire manner.

    “After taking three steps forward from the instructed position and prostrating, you must never raise your head until His Majesty speaks.”

    As I entered Daejeon, I stood side by side with Hyuk Kirin. Now that I thought about it, I wondered what would happen to the sun gun I usually used, but when I saw the large coffin on top of my head, I thought it might be inside it.

    Before entering Daejeon, I took a last look at Hyeok Kirin. I wish you would give me a signal if you did a pato with your brother. Shouldn’t I also do something called mental preparation?

    But Hyuk Kirin, who made eye contact, only smiled.

    “Your Majesty! Audience members are waiting!”

    “Come on in.”

    We heard a familiar voice, and Hyeok Kirin and I bowed down at the eunuch’s gesture and only looked at my feet. The eunuch’s hand guided me and I reached the right place.

    “This is the royal palace! Audience members, show respect!”

    Hyukkirin and I bowed down and shouted.

    “Hurray! hurray! Long live! Sichuan Nang Ho Cheonan pays homage to His Majesty the Sun Emperor of the Great Empire!”

    “Hurray! hurray! Long live! Hyuk Kirin, a disciple of the Jeomchang Sect, has come to know Feha, the Sun Emperor of the Great Empire!”

    “Hmm. Tell us about the achievements of these two people.”

    A familiar voice was heard.

    “These two men helped Governor Sima Yan establish the laws and standards of Sichuan Province correctly. Hyuk Qilin, a disciple of the Jianchang Sect…”

    For a while, phrases praising the two of us for our achievements continued endlessly.

    What can I say, the audience is less fun than I thought. I thought I would be able to see the faces of the ministers and see the gorgeous Daejeon, but in reality, all I could see was the woven pattern of the rug laid out in Daejeon.

    Anyway, as I lay down like this, I finally felt the realization that my life in the imperial palace was over. I feel like I’m standing at a graduation ceremony.

    “… As a result, all the people of Sichuan Province rejoiced and the laws and regulations of Sichuan Province were established correctly, so it can be said that the contribution of these two people is not small!”

    Finally, after the promulgator’s long speech, Daejeon fell into silence for a moment.

    “The two people put a lot of effort into it.”

    “Seong-eun is devastated! Your Majesty!”

    “Seong-eun is devastated! Your Majesty!”

    “Although the two of you were not the dignitaries, their courage brought back the smiles of all the people of Sichuan and helped to establish the country’s laws. I am so proud of their courage that I called them here to congratulate them.”

    “Seong-eun is devastated! Your Majesty!”

    “Seong-eun is devastated! Your Majesty!”

    “You two, raise your heads.”

    I raised my head. It wasn’t something I just picked up.

    ‘My heart is really pounding and I want to see His Majesty’s eyes, but do I really dare to raise my face and look into His Majesty’s eyes? However, since His Majesty the Emperor himself issued an order, we must follow it. Ah, Your Majesty, I will understand by the glory of my three lives!’

    He expressed this emotion by raising his head as a gesture.

    It was this head-raising movement that Canf practiced intensively for a week with the court ladies suspected of being possessed.

    The point is really to focus only on the emperor’s toes.

    As I was doing this, I was overcome by a strange feeling.

    I’ve seen enough of Yu-kyung’s face. When he came to Cheonsangru to trick me, he spent half a day debunking fake gambling theories, and after getting punched by Hyeok Kirin, he was so depressed that he even gave me counseling. What are you doing to see me once again?

    mind! Me ugh? Let’s take a walk around the imperial palace with the emperor! Even gambling at Cheonsangru! I even consulted about my concerns and did it all!

    Although I felt that way, I thought it was a waste of time I invested in Gungcheongjeon, so I worked diligently. How many times did we practice this audience procedure in the morning and afternoon for a week? It was something I had done hundreds of times.

    “Raise your head. I will allow you to see my face.”

    “Seong-eun is devastated! Your Majesty!”

    “Seong-eun is devastated! Your Majesty!”

    I saw Yu-gyeong sitting on the throne and wearing a yellow robe. The way he displayed his majesty as an emperor was completely different from that of the eunuch Yu-gyeong. Is this Yugyeong as an emperor? Yu-kyung was smiling.

    When I saw that, my thoughts became complicated.

    What conclusion did the two of them come to that made Yu-gyeong laugh and Hyeok-ki-rin laugh, so the audience ceremony was brought forward?

    Anyway, Yukyung nodded slightly and I lowered my head again.

    “Your Majesty will give each of them a hundred nyang of gold and treasure! You have been granted permission to exercise access to the Imperial Palace Treasury for a week! Additionally, the two will be awarded an elixir from the imperial palace!”

    “Seong-eun is devastated! Your Majesty!”

    “Seong-eun is devastated! Your Majesty!”

    The procedure is over. It was a very short time to be said to be the fruit of a week of waiting, but that’s true for any event. My achievements were reported to the emperor, the emperor praised us, we saw the emperor’s eyes, and the list of rewards was announced.

    Now all I had to do was get up and leave and the procedure was over.

    That is, until Yu-kyung opened her mouth and asked me a question.

    “Did you say his name was Hocheon-an?”

    I could feel the air in Daejeon stirring. I, too, gulped at the ominous feeling. Because Yu-kyung’s actions now were outside the scope of an audience.

    “Yes! your majesty! It is said that a small person is Hocheonan!”

    “When I heard that he had contributed to this as a ronin, I was curious and asked my classmate to do a little research.”

    No, Your Majesty Emperor Yujing. Why are you doing this to me? We were good.

    “I heard that you promoted the martial arts of a martial artist of the Jeomchang faction called Yeo Il-ye, right? I heard that he gave me something called enlightenment.”

    Without realizing it, I looked towards Hyeok Gi-rin. Hyeok Kirin just calmly looked into my eyes. It wasn’t a look in his eyes that meant harm to me. Has an agreement been reached with Yu-kyung in this regard?

    “…There was just a meeting with the Yeoilje Sohyeop, and the Yeoilje Sohyeop achieved enlightenment on their own.”

    “Hoo. I see… Admiral Geumuiwi. What do you think?”

    Why does Admiral Geumwiwi suddenly appear? Why am I suddenly curious about his opinion?

    “Commissioner Admiral Song Chang-sik is reporting this. Since the ronin’s sword has a lot of practical experience, I think Yeoilye Hyeongaek may have been inspired by that.”

    “Hoo. I guess so.”

    “Yes. your majesty. I heard that the ronin’s sword has a poor foundation, but because they fight in numerous battles, their swords are very fierce, practical, and sometimes eccentric. Even though he is a ronin, his skills must be outstanding as he helped Sima Yan Taedu to achieve great things for Sichuan. I think it is quite possible that a charlatan named Yeo Il-ye was inspired.”

    No Shiva. Why are you doing this to me?

    Suddenly, the emperor and Song Chang-sik started having a strange conversation back and forth.

    “Yes. I heard that the lack of practical training of the Geumui Committee is a big problem these days.”

    “That’s right. your majesty! As a soldier protecting the empire, the fact that the world is at peace is something to be happy about. Also, as a soldier protecting the empire, I am afraid that the blade of my sword will rust!”

    “Indeed. It’s a big problem. It’s such a big deal that the blade of the Jinuiwi, which protects this imperial palace, is in danger of rusting… That’s right. How about supplementing the practical experience by inviting an external advisor with extensive practical experience?

    “ Indeed! There really is a silver bullet!”

    “Hahaha. So, is it guided by our ancestors? It seems like the right person has appeared before my eyes.”

    Cold sweat ran down my back.

    Even though I could see the patterns on the fabric on the floor with my eyes, I could feel the air of Daejeon stirring. The embarrassment of the ministers can be felt in the air, showing that this is the emperor’s arbitrary decision.

    “Indeed. It would be helpful to Geumuiwi if he were someone who could provide inspiration to the disciples of the Jeomchang faction, a famous sect in the martial arts world! Also, I can trust him as he is someone who helped Governor Sima Yan set the standard of Sichuan straight, so there is no one better suited for him!”

    Daejeon was filled with silence. It was an unspoken pressure waiting for my ‘voluntary support’.

    “Your Majesty…! Bringing in external advisors to the Financial Services Commission is probably…”

    Someone tried to take advantage of the silence, but nothing came of it. Yu-kyung probably glared at me and pressed me. Yugyeong’s intentions were clear.

    If a mere ronin were to refuse to be an external advisor to the Geumui Commission in the present, he would say, ‘How dare you reject my offer? It wasn’t surprising that the words ‘Replace Gaejakdu!’ came out of Yu-gyeong’s mouth.

    “A cow, a cow…a glory beyond measure!”

    “Hehe. Do not put words of humility in your mouth. Since he has proven his qualifications in Sichuan Province, I will appoint Musa Ho Cheon-an as an external advisor to the Jinui Committee! Is there anyone who opposes it?”

    “Seong-eun is devastated!”

    “Seong-eun is devastated!”

    Although everyone’s feelings may have been different, everyone unanimously supported Yu-kyung’s choice.

    I suddenly became an external advisor to the Gold and Silver Commission.

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