Ch.317Reincarnation (4)

The Emperor was greatly surprised by his nephew’s bold words.

And for good reason—he had immediately grasped what the Emperor desired.

Of course, any seasoned ruler would understand why the Emperor was acting this way.

But the nephew standing before him was only 12 years old.

So he couldn’t help but be surprised.

“Are you saying you can achieve this?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The bold child spoke without hesitation.

The Emperor couldn’t help but feel intrigued by this.

Unlike Mongke Khan, the father of this child who was closer to a thug or a good-for-nothing, Tolui did not have lifeless eyes.

His eyes sparkled brightly.

They were eyes filled with intense determination to accomplish anything.

But this could just be the Emperor’s own misconception.

So the Emperor decided to learn more about this child.

“I have met you before.”

“…”

“When you first came to the Goryeo-Liaodong Federation, you were just a newborn.”

After saying this, the Emperor observed the child’s expression.

The child’s face remained perfectly calm.

So the Emperor decided to test the child’s mind.

“You weren’t like this back then. What has gotten into you?”

It was true that he had transformed as if becoming a different person.

That’s why the Emperor spoke these words, and the child answered immediately as if he knew what the Emperor was thinking.

“I understand what Your Majesty means. But as you said earlier, I returned from death. At that time, I met our ancestors.”

“Huh! You speak as if you’ve become some kind of shaman.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue in disbelief.

But the child continued speaking without flinching.

“In death, I saw the founding ancestor. The warrior of the steppes who galloped across the vast plains on a single horse…”

The Emperor swallowed hard at the child’s words.

This was because he knew better than anyone whose name was about to come from the child’s mouth.

Yesugei.

He was the ruler of the Yeke Mongol Ulus and was called Gurkhan.

Known as the Lord of the Four Seas and the Lord of Terror, it was said that dozens of cavalry followed under his command.

The Goryeo-Liaodong Federation was also a country where Belgutei, the second son of this Lord of the Four Seas, became the ruler.

So in a way, it would not be wrong to say that Mongolia, Goryeo, Japan, Western Xia, and Liaodong all shared the same ancestor.

Therefore, it was possible that this young child’s claim of meeting his distant ancestor Yesugei was not a lie.

After all, they were connected by blood.

“The founding ancestor who was the Khan of the steppes, the Son of Heaven of the Central Plains, the Shahanshah of Iran, and the Basileus of the Byzantine Empire.”

“Are you truly saying you met him?”

“Yes.”

“You’re an impudent one. Do you know the significance of the name you’re speaking?”

The child did not readily answer.

The Emperor made an expression as if to say “I thought so” and continued.

“He was born with the destiny to rule the world, a messenger of God. He is our ancestor and a semi-divine being who has ascended to receive everyone’s admiration. Thanks to his halo, we, his descendants, are able to rule this land.”

The Emperor was born and lived his entire life as a Goryeo person, but he never forgot that his ancestors were originally warriors who galloped across the steppes.

Not only did he not deny the legitimacy of the founding ancestor, but he was grateful to be born as a descendant of Yesugei and respected him.

That’s why he had to deny the current Mongolia even more.

The current Mongolia was in a state of chaos due to the princes’ rebellion.

None of those princes possessed the qualities of a ruler.

Therefore, the Emperor was even more firmly expressing his identity as a Goryeo person.

“However, now, in this land, there is no one who can even follow in his footsteps. Therefore, as the Emperor of Goryeo, I am devoted to ruling this land.”

“…”

“But you have disturbed my mind by mentioning the founding ancestor’s name, which is not only impudent but also disrespectful.”

The Emperor ended the conversation with these words.

And he silently looked at the child, waiting to see how he would react.

If the child apologized now, the Emperor planned to no longer pay attention to him.

It would just be a lie to gain favor.

“If you have nothing more to say, you may leave.”

“The founding ancestor.”

As the child’s lips moved, a momentary aura emanated from him that seemed to belong to someone else.

It was an atmosphere that could never come from a child, but rather from a seasoned warrior.

Feeling this, the Emperor looked at the child as if entranced.

“He said he deeply lamented the division among his descendants.”

Tolui’s single statement.

At those words, the Emperor began to feel as if the child were the founding ancestor himself.

Though he had never seen this legendary figure, he thought that if he were alive, wouldn’t he be like this?

The Emperor was a seasoned politician.

He had dealt with numerous generals and politicians.

But this child possessed something that far surpassed those generals and politicians.

It was difficult to describe,

but something was there.

“…What are you?”

“I am Tolui Khan, son of Mongke Khan.”

“No. I’m asking what you really are.”

“…”

“Are you a demon wearing a human disguise? Or are you an immortal who has transformed into a child?”

“I am not such a being, Your Majesty.”

The child answered calmly.

The Emperor realized he had become too excited.

So he took a deep breath and composed himself again.

“I can see that you are no ordinary person. But it’s hard to believe that you can help me.”

“Why is that?”

“You are 12 years old. Words from someone who isn’t even an adult yet are like grasping at clouds.”

“On the day I become an adult, I will become Your Majesty’s card.”

“In place of your father who only wastes food?”

“Yes.”

The child’s eyes were shining.

This meant that the child also had something he wanted.

The Emperor, being a seasoned politician, immediately noticed this.

So he spoke to the child.

“We will discuss how you can help me after you become an adult. Is there something you want right now?”

“Please confine my father.”

Without the slightest hesitation, Tolui asked for his father to be confined.

Hearing this, the Emperor looked at the child in disbelief.

“My father is a good-for-nothing. If such a person continues to torment me, I will eventually break.”

“So you want him confined? Do you think that’s something a child should say?”

Instead of answering, the child rolled up his sleeve.

This revealed bluish bruises on his pale white skin.

“…”

“Even when my mother passed away, he frequented brothels and killed my only brother. Calling such a person ‘father’ is the last respect I have for him.”

The Emperor was greatly shocked.

This was because it was a bigger problem than he had known.

In fact, the Emperor knew that Mongke Khan beat Tolui Khan for disciplinary purposes.

It would have been strange if he didn’t know, as all information within the palace was reported to him.

But he didn’t know it was this severe.

Seeing how thin the child was, as if he couldn’t even eat properly, it was clear how unqualified Mongke was as a father.

This was not a level of punishment that could be disguised as discipline.

If this continued to be neglected, it was only a matter of time before Mongke would kill Tolui as well.

“Please confine my father. And give me a chance. Then I will fulfill what Your Majesty desires.”

There was desperation in Tolui’s words.

At this plea that seemed to beg for his life, the Emperor finally had to nod.

“Very well. But this is not an extension of our deal. It’s just atonement for my indifference towards you.”

With these final words, the Emperor rose.

And he let out a long sigh.

Seeing that it was clearly time to leave, Tolui stood up.

And after bowing, he was about to leave.

“I want to know why you’re wearing Goryeo-style formal attire.”

At the Emperor’s words, the child answered immediately while still in a bowing position.

“This is an audience with the Emperor of Goryeo. So it’s only natural to wear Goryeo-style formal attire.”

“An audience with the Emperor of Goryeo… Hahaha! I see. Yes. I should have noticed from the moment you came wearing that outfit.”

The Emperor laughed loudly.

And he spoke to the child who was about to leave.

“Your father will depart for Bohyeonwon in Gaesong tomorrow.”

* * *

“Whew…”

I returned to my quarters after meeting with the Emperor.

Upon returning to my quarters, the tension released and a long sigh escaped me.

“He may be my descendant, but his aura is no joke.”

I succeeded in persuading the Emperor of the Goryeo-Liaodong Federation.

Of course, it was essentially an emotional appeal by showing the wounds from Mongke’s beatings, but it worked, so that was fortunate.

“If I had gone on about how Yesugei spoke in my dream back then, I might not have been able to persuade him.”

Honestly, the connection between the Emperor and Yesugei was very weak, almost non-existent.

Again, the Emperor was born and lived as a Goryeo person.

If I had told such a person to follow what his distant ancestor said, it would have certainly backfired.

So it was fortunate that I spoke briefly and exuded an aura to convey that I was no ordinary person.

“Of course, this is just my speculation, so I can’t be certain.”

Only the Emperor knew the truth.

“But from now on, there will be no one to torment me anymore.”

I had sent Mongke, a domestic abuser who beat his son, to Bohyeonwon.

Bohyeonwon was formerly a banquet hall for the Goryeo Emperor and was located quite far from here.

For Mongke, who enjoyed pleasure, it was essentially like going on a retreat rather than being confined.

“Now it’s time to start again.”

The obstacle was gone.

It was time to prepare to fly.