Chapter 50: Noble Consort Eom and Ok Jinseo Part 2

“Her Highness the Noble Consort, do you truly believe you can negotiate with the Westerners without me?”

“Can you, who are not me, even manage to deal with the Westerners?”

“…What did you say?”

“Your Highness, you’re already furious that a mere woman like me is handling matters as critical as national diplomacy. Isn’t that right?”

“This is the kind of situation where you have to push back hard—at least enough to keep her from acting up in the future.”

Ahem. “A woman of no standing has no place recklessly involving herself in affairs that represent the nation.”

‘A woman of no standing? It’s absurd to hear her say that about herself.’

Consort Eom was once a palace maid who gained King Gojong’s favor.

After being driven out by Empress Myeongseong, she was recalled following the Eulmi Incident.

I wonder who really has ‘no standing’ here.

‘How can a woman who wasn’t even acknowledged by the empress exist as a Noble Consort?’

She’s always been controversial, that one.

‘I get it—she’s trying to repay King Gojong’s favor, and even now, after his death, she’s working hard.’

But let’s think logically.

‘If you weigh her value against mine, who comes out on top?’

She’s ugly. Even when receiving foreign dignitaries, Westerners would look at her and think, ‘Ah, typical Asians.’

Meanwhile, I have flawless beauty—skin as pale as snow, features even Westerners would admire.

Objectively, from a neutral perspective, it’s obvious.

It’s not my fault I feel this way, even though I was originally a man.

First impressions are always based on appearance.

Whether an Asian is just a monkey or an honorary white with knowledge is something people decide afterward.

If a woman like Consort Eom had knowledge and a universal language, people would think, ‘Well, she’s ugly, so she’d better be competent.’

But with me, they’d think, ‘She lives up to her beauty. Not all Asians are monkeys.’

‘If she plans to obstruct me until Prince Gyeongjin ascends the throne, then I’ll make sure she doesn’t interfere with Korea’s modernization.’

I’m not fighting for the Korean Empire.

I’m fighting only for myself.

In the process, I don’t care about the empire—only the future of our people.

To prevent that horrific future, we need a strong nation, whether it’s an empire or a republic.

The empire, as it stands now, is hopeless.

Consort Eom only cares about preserving imperial authority, not the nation.

‘Doesn’t she realize that clinging to power will only lead to ruin?’

“A woman of no standing isn’t the only one here.”

At my words, Consort Eom’s already ugly face twisted further.

First, she looked stunned, then her brows furrowed, her face flushing red.

She knew I was referring to her.

Furious, she slammed her armrest.

“How dare you!”

‘What will you do even if you’re angry?’

‘Was King Gojong some kind of ugly fetishist?’

Empress Myeongseong wasn’t particularly beautiful either, and Consort Eom is hideous.

‘Did that bastard only like ugly women?’

‘No—wait. Empress Myeongseong wasn’t his choice, was she?’ Either way, Consort Eom is unbearably ugly.

‘I’m not an Oriental monkey!’ If I retorted like that, even the British would laugh and say, ‘Look at her—how can you deny it?’

And yet, she’s foul-tempered and obsessed with imperial power.

The palace is guarded by the Imperial Guards and the Manchu Army.

Since the Manchu officers are among them, the palace is effectively under our control.

Time to act boldly.

“I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this era, if we dismiss capable people over gender, how can Korea survive?”

I glared at her coldly as I spoke.

Fundamentally, gender is just an excuse.

The real issue is that a competent person acting too boldly in the emperor’s stead looks unseemly.

That’s the heart of it.

‘So, what would she say if I handed everything over?’

Consort Eom must know.

She’s been pushing for Sunjong’s succession, hoping to install her own son as heir.

At least until Prince Gyeongjin takes the throne, she’ll try to solidify imperial authority.

“Such insolence! Do you forget who granted you your position?”

“I earned it myself. I defeated the Qing army single-handedly, confronted the Japanese, and rescued His Majesty from their hands. This isn’t some bought title—even if I were a lowborn, my achievements justify my role as Minister.”

“Are you challenging imperial authority now?”

“Minister! How dare you speak to Her Highness like that! She is the royal family’s elder!”

‘Challenging imperial authority? That’s unfair. I couldn’t care less about it.’

‘Lee Beomyun said my bloodline is noble, but what use is that when I’m a woman?’

At most, it might help legitimize my leadership later—‘Ah, her bloodline is impeccable! She’s fit to rule!’—but that’s it.

Still, the power I hold now is the only reason they tolerate my bluntness.

“I’m not challenging it. I’ve said it before—times have changed. I traveled Europe as a child and understand their politics and international relations. For Korea to survive, we must swallow our pride and take whatever crumbs the West offers until we grow strong. Only then will the throne be secure. If the Qing pigs and Japanese target us again, our independence will be at risk.”

“A Minister of Korea should have some dignity!”

“When did dignity stop us from bowing to the Manchus at Samjeondo? Face reality. The Japanese are wagging their tails for Western approval, but we at least have value—enough for Germany to toss us scraps.”

“Hmph. So the rumors are true—you really went to Europe as a child?”

“If not, how else could I have gained the Russian emperor’s favor, saved the crown prince, and mastered European languages?”

That should be convincing enough.

“While you were all buried in your wells, I was busy sharpening my vision of the world.”

Even the eyes of the conservative faction elders changed at my words.

“So that’s how it was.”

“Moreover, I received military training in Europe—their way. That’s how I was able to fight against the Qing and Japanese forces.”

“No wonder you’ve achieved so much.”

“Of course, that was entirely thanks to the French advisory group, my survival skills, and my own capabilities.’ But there was no need to spell it all out.”

“If this nation is to survive, we must learn their technology, grow stronger with their tools, and conquer the Qing and Japan.”

Empress Eom still looked displeased, but she knew she couldn’t refuse.

Eventually, losing the war of words, Empress Eom waved her hand dismissively.

“You may leave now.”

‘If she wanted me gone, I’d go. That was only polite.’

***

As I stepped out of the Seokjojeon, now serving as the imperial palace, my eyes caught the plum blossom emblem adorning the building’s pinnacle.

The plum blossom—a symbol of the Korean Empire’s royal family.

I wanted to tear it down right then and there.

‘This country is too far gone for its imperial delusions. From the very beginning, it was just a nation that begged the Ming Dynasty for permission to exist.’

Its foundations were too weak.

‘At least Goryeo had the decency to claim succession from Goguryeo from the start.’

“Her Majesty the Empress is still blind to the ways of the world. I hope the Foreign Minister can understand.”

I turned to see one of the men I’d noticed earlier.

“Ah, the Minister of Education.”

‘Of course. For some reason, Yi Wanyong was here.’

The man smiled obsequiously, rubbing his hands together like the perfect sycophant.

“My apologies for the late introduction. I should’ve greeted you sooner. Do you have a moment?”

‘This slimy, mustachioed snake.’

‘From childhood, he was the textbook traitor. The kind you’d point to and say, “That’s the guy who’d sell out his country.”‘

Seeing Yi Wanyong in person, he was every bit the backstabbing opportunist.

‘With a face like that, it was obvious. The type who’d sell the nation for a quick buck if you dangled the right price.’

What I wondered was whether he’d genuinely tried to preserve the royal family through negotiation while selling out the country.

‘Was he, in his own twisted way, a loyalist trying to protect the Jeonju Yi clan?’

Honestly, even as I considered it, it sounded like nonsense.

‘But if it were true, this bastard might be playing both sides. Using me now, then discarding me when convenient.’

The rebels claimed to support me, but there had to be intermediate steps.

“What do you want?”

“I hope the Foreign Minister can show some understanding toward Her Majesty the Empress.”

At first, he played the loyalist, framing it as if he were on the side of the conservatives.

‘Right. The usual “I’m a man of heavy responsibility” spiel. But since he’d sided with me, maybe he was worth humoring.’

“I’m not sure that’s something I should understand.”

“Her Majesty lacks vision.”

‘Lacked vision? That was putting it mildly.’

‘Did she not realize that without a nation, there’d be no royal family?’

‘If the Qing or Japan swallowed Korea whole, how could the monarchy possibly retain its power?’

‘Then again, if they downgraded to a vassal state, maybe they’d survive. Japan might preserve the royal family as a figurehead.’

“You won’t find a woman more rootless than Her Majesty. At least Empress Dowager Cixi knew when to bow to the great powers.”

‘Look at this bastard. Testing the waters. Straight-up insulting the Empress now.’

If this guy was leaning toward the conservatives, it wasn’t for Emperor Sunjong—more likely for Crown Prince Yeong or Prince Uichin.

“That’s too harsh.”

‘Too harsh, my ass. Empress Eom was no Cixi. At least she hadn’t poisoned the Emperor for defying her.’

“Truth must be spoken plainly. With His Majesty the Emperor present, Her Majesty’s obstinacy jeopardizes Korea’s future.”

‘This guy was a confirmed traitor. The kind who’d sell the country if the price was right.’

‘Was he already planning to switch sides after Gojong’s death?’

“Where is the Crown Prince now?”

“Likely in an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

‘My mind conjured the image of our “precious” Sunjong meeting Germany’s Prince Joachim.’

“We’re doomed.”

‘Truly doomed.’

‘Could our “golden boy” carry himself with dignity? Not a chance. In this era of rampant racism, he’d be utterly humiliated.’

‘Even the Japanese, despised as they were, were seen as nothing more than British cannon fodder until the Russo-Japanese War.’

‘We had to prove our worth, but with a monarch like this?’

‘The royal family was still just a reactionary faction. Wait—could I use Yi Wanyong?’

‘This snake was probably gauging the balance between the Manchurian and conservative factions.’

‘Maybe I could dangle the right bait. He’d want a sure bet.’

‘Whether it was a republic or an empire, he’d side with whoever guaranteed his wealth and status.’

“Though the Foreign Minister seems to have an unusual relationship with the Crown Prince.”

‘Right. Unusual indeed.’

‘Maybe I could use this bastard to squeeze out every advantage.’

‘If I’d turned Nicholas II into a puppet, why not use Joachim to extract everything we could?’

‘And make this traitor betray the Empress and the royal family in the process.’

‘Even a dog like this could be useful if it was my dog.’

“He respects me, apparently.”

I sighed slightly, and Yi Wanyong’s eyes lit up.

“‘The German prince respects the Foreign Minister?’”

His eyes widened.

‘In his mind, he was already tilting toward the Manchurian faction over the conservatives.’

‘He’d known the conservatives were a dead end. And now, a great power favored me?’

‘From his perspective, even if I were a talking ape, he’d sell out the conservatives to side with me.’