My Younger Siblings Are the Greatest Masters in the World - Chapter 123

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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123.

That evening’s dinner naturally continued into a drinking session that lasted late into the night.

Hwang Unhwa said, “Alcohol should be drunk at a pleasure house to taste its best,” yet he poured the most alcohol.

After spending time like that, only Seol Mujin and Ju Cheonmyeong remained.

“What will you do about Hwanggeum-i?”

“I’ve already brought them to Beijing.”

“Really?”

“Why do you look surprised? Did you think I would abandon that mother and child?”

“I was worried about what would happen if you did.”

Ju Cheonmyeong chuckled.

“I couldn’t do that even out of fear of you.”

Ju Cheonmyeong basically had no intention of abandoning his child.

It wasn’t that he had affection for Jang Jangsim.

Though her appearance was exactly his type, such women were abundant throughout the Central Plains.

However, a child with a mole behind his ear and a face that reminded him of his own childhood was the only one in the world.

It would be a lie to say he felt the affection unique to a “son” toward that child who strangely caught his eye.

But if Ju Cheonmyeong were asked to choose five things he must never abandon, Hwanggeum-i had become someone who must be included.

And perhaps as time passed, it would decrease from five to four, to three… and so on.

Seol Mujin spoke.

“As you know, the fiercer the power struggle becomes, the more dangerous Jang’s Wife and Hwanggeum-i will be. They might already be in danger.”

“I know. That’s why I’m thinking of bringing them into the Imperial Palace entirely.”

“That means you’ll completely reveal the mother and child to the world.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. Of course, I’ll have to hide the mother’s status.”

“It’s not something that can be hidden just because you want to hide it.”

“I know. It will be revealed someday.”

“The prince’s mother was a courtesan. It’s not a matter that can be taken lightly.”

“I can solve problems of that degree. I’m not that incompetent.”

Though his mind wasn’t at ease, since Ju Cheonmyeong spoke that way, he had no choice but to watch.

Ju Cheonmyeong asked.

“How about taking this opportunity to enter government service?”

“You mean enter the path of officialdom? Though I entered through the back door, I’m already a Geumeuiwi commander.”

“From now on, you’ll enter and exit through the main gate. With the military achievements you made this time, there won’t be anyone opposing it.”

Seol Mujin shook his head without a moment’s hesitation.

“That would be difficult.”

“You’re rejecting it so decisively?”

“It’s a matter I’ve already concluded. What I can do in Beijing is limited. This is a society dominated by ranks created by the state. But in Murim, I can create those ranks myself.”

Ju Cheonmyeong frowned.

“You’re saying you’ll become a martial artist?”

“Look at this fight with the rebel army. One person can change the aspect of war in an instant.”

“You achieved such results because you’re capable. Speaking of which, I asked my Hwang bodyguard…”

“You’ve acknowledged Hwang Daehaep as a bodyguard?”

Ju Cheonmyeong waved his hands saying, “It’s temporary, temporary,” then continued.

“When I asked the Hwang bodyguard, he said those who could produce such results in Murim wouldn’t exceed ten fingers. Maybe not even five people.”

“I’m not that level of master…”

“Of course, he didn’t say you were among the five great masters of Murim.”

“Right.”

“Strong martial arts are basic, but that boldness and courage, tactics, and most importantly, something that makes five hundred people willingly risk their lives. What the Hwang bodyguard considers important seems to be that something. What do you think that something is?”

“If you ask me so suddenly… I don’t know. Rather than me, wasn’t it the five hundred suicide squad who went together who were brave?”

“Being able to draw out courage from them would be that something I mentioned.”

Seol Mujin could only shrug his shoulders.

“That aside, you’re saying you’ll continue wandering outside.”

“That would be comfortable for both me and Your Highness.”

“Then will you continue staying in Jinan?”

“For now, yes. It might be a bit lonely without mother and father, but it’s like my hometown.”

“Still, for working together, it’s better to be close…”

Only after saying that did Ju Cheonmyeong discover himself unknowingly relying heavily on Seol Mujin.

‘Being able to keep someone like Mujin-i by my side would be my fortune.’

Seol Mujin yawned long and said.

“Since it’s late, we should rest for today. Tomorrow will be busy.”

“Are you going to enter the Imperial Palace tomorrow?”

“Wouldn’t it be good to quickly finish the Myeoncheonhoe matter? I also have things to do in Jinan.”

“What things?”

“The Jegal Family.”

“Those people seem like they’re fine with or without them.”

“It might seem that way for now, but if the fight flows to an even match, even the strength of one dog might be precious. We need to gather as much power as we can.”

Seol Mujin was as enthusiastic as if he were trying to become emperor himself.

“Why are you helping me so much?”

“When Your Highness becomes emperor, I need to have merit so I can scold Your Highness for your faults.”

“You’ll scold the emperor?”

“If you don’t want to be scolded by me, do well.”

Ju Cheonmyeong couldn’t help but chuckle.

***

Dong Muhyeok bowed his head respectfully toward Seol Mujin.

“It’s been a long time. Commander.”

“Let’s dispense with stiff courtesy. I’m only a commander in name.”

Dong Muhyeok looked at the triplets standing closely beside Seol Mujin and asked.

“Samhwangja Jeonha said that the commander’s siblings would also enter the palace together, and it seems to be true.”

“Will it be difficult?”

The triplets shot looks at Dong Muhyeok that said, “Take us! If you don’t take us, we’ll kill you!”

“It’s fine. High-ranking officials’ children often tour the Forbidden City.”

Seol Mujin inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

If Dong Muhyeok had said no, the triplets probably would have climbed over the Forbidden City wall.

Seol Mujin first moved his steps toward the Forbidden City visible in the distance.

“These days, the commander is definitely the talk of the Geumeuiwi.”

“They’re not cursing me, are they?”

“Well, we can’t say there’s none. A commander isn’t even a low-ranking Geumeuiwi member, but someone unheard of suddenly took the position.”

“It’s just a meaningless title.”

“Is that so? The rumor that you’ll come as Bukjinmuseo or Namjinmuseo seems to be true.”

“What? Me?”

“You’ve achieved such great merit, so you’re fully qualified. The current Bukjinmuseo is also facing retirement.”

“That will absolutely never happen.”

“Why not?”

“It’s a path of hardship. If I become a high-ranking official, I’ll live buried in work, but I prefer to play and eat moderately.”

Seol Mujin asked Dong Muhyeok, who had an expression saying, “What kind of person is this?”

“May I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“It’s about His Majesty the Emperor.”

“I hope it’s something I can answer.”

“Why isn’t the Crown Prince being appointed? If they had just chosen a suitable prince and appointed him, we wouldn’t have today’s chaos.”

Seol Mujin had always been curious about this, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask Ju Cheonmyeong about it.

Because if he did, he might end up hearing curses about his father from Ju Cheonmyeong’s mouth.

“It’s because of His Majesty’s indecisiveness. I heard he’s always had trouble making important decisions since long ago. He often overturned decisions he’d already made too. How bad must it have been for people to even call him the Pancake Emperor?”

Seol Mujin was shocked, and the Triplets burst out laughing with a “Pfft!”

“Is it okay to call the Emperor a pancake?”

“What’s wrong with that? People always curse the Emperor when he’s not around anyway.”

“That’s true.”

If you cursed him to his face, your head would fly off.

“It was common for decisions made in the morning to change by evening. His Majesty knows his own personality well, so he couldn’t make decisions easily, and kept postponing things day after day until we reached this point. People say it’s fortunate that at least he wasn’t swayed by the eunuch faction.”

“It’s also fortunate he’s not a tyrant.”

“He’s just an incompetent ruler.”

“Commander Dong seems to really dislike His Majesty.”

“When a merchant is incompetent, only his own family is ruined, but when a ruler is incompetent, all the people under heaven suffer. And we’re witnessing that right now.”

While talking, they arrived at Omun of the Forbidden City.

The security at Omun, the first gateway into the Imperial Palace, was strict.

Of course, thanks to Dong Muhyeok’s company, not only Seol Mujin but also the Triplets could easily set foot in the Imperial Palace.

After passing through Omun, they could see a huge courtyard and Taehwamun, which led into the inner fortress of the Forbidden City.

Between Omun and Taehwamun, a long stream was positioned in a bow shape.

The reason for building as many as six bridges across the stream was unknown, but it looked quite elegant.

There were guards in front of Taehwamun too, so they had to undergo inspection once more.

“Hey, can’t we look around separately… Ah! My ear!”

Before Seol Mantong could finish his sentence, Seol Ryeoseon grabbed his ear.

“Don’t talk nonsense and stay right next to oppa.”

Throughout the Imperial Palace, Geumeuiwi in golden robes were standing guard, and officials were bustling about.

“We need to go to Seongwonjeong where the royal physicians are.”

“If we go to Seongwonjeong, can we meet all the royal physicians?”

“If there are no patients to treat in the Imperial Palace, most of them are at Seongwonjeong. But what’s the name of this person called Ma-ui that we need to find?”

When Seol Mujin glanced over, the Triplets quickly shook their heads.

“We only know the face, not the name. But there probably aren’t many royal physicians who are particularly close to His Highness the First Prince, right?”

“If we gather information like that, they might notice what we’re looking for.”

“How many royal physicians are there?”

“About twenty to thirty.”

“That’s not too many.”

“Although there are many people in the Imperial Palace, there aren’t that many people that royal physicians treat. Palace maids and eunuchs are treated by medical women who are assistants to the royal physicians.”

Seongwonjeong was a small building located in the eastern part of the Forbidden City.

Although the area was well over a hundred pyeong, it was small compared to other buildings within the Forbidden City.

Around Seongwonjeong, there were Geumeuiwi as expected, most of whom were Dong Muhyeok’s subordinates.

While Dong Muhyeok went to talk to the Geumeuiwi, Seol Mantong said to Seol Mujin.

“Hyung, we’ll need an inconspicuous place.”

“What do you need such a place for?”

“We need to kidnap Ma-ui when we spot him.”

“Right here in the Imperial Palace? Royal physicians also leave work. Wouldn’t it be better to catch him outside?”

“Huh? Doesn’t he live in the Imperial Palace?”

“The Imperial Palace is strictly a forbidden area for men. Apart from the Imperial Family, the only men are castrated eunuchs.”

Seol Mantong asked with a surprised face.

“Then hundreds of palace maids all live looking only at one Emperor?”

“That’s what they say.”

“Should I become Emperor?”

Seol Ryeoseon looked at Seol Mantong with a pathetic gaze.

“You’re really full of nonsense.”

Seol Mantong muttered, “So that’s why everyone’s making such a fuss about becoming Emperor.”

Dong Muhyeok, who had finished talking with the Geumeuiwi, returned.

“Fortunately, someone I know well was on duty, so I could ask detailed questions about the royal physicians. A royal physician named Hwangcheonseong has been exclusively treating His Highness the First Prince’s Dongsungjeong for several years now.”

“Is Hwangcheonseong at Seongwonjeong now?”

“No. He went to Dongsungjeong about one hour ago. Would you like to go to Dongsungjeong, or wait here?”

“We probably can’t enter Dongsungjeong, can we?”

“Of course not. It’s His Highness the First Prince’s residence, so unless you’re designated security, even Geumeuiwi cannot enter. The problem is that Hwangcheonseong often leaves work directly from Dongsungjeong.”

“Is there a place near Dongsungjeong where we could stay hidden from others’ eyes?”

“Of course.”

***

“What? What did you say?”

At Hwangcheonseong’s question, First Princess Jang Sowun just kept chewing on her thumbnail.

She had chewed so much that it seemed like half her nail was gone.

“Did I hear you correctly?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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