Royal Coup d'État - Chapter 12

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

Chapter 12
“Tsk.”
Gong Chin Wang clicked his tongue in displeasure at how matters were unfolding. Perhaps sensing the old man’s irritation, Sun Heung Gun, who had interjected one last time, began stammering as his eyes darted about nervously.
“Well, you said we should follow protocol, so……”
“Why does a member of the imperial house who isn’t even on the Jong Chin Hoe council presume to obstruct the proceedings?”
At his words, Sun Heung Gun immediately shrank back. Though he was Yeon Chin Wang’s son as well, there was no question of him standing up to his much elder brother.
Ui Gu Dae Gun did not step in, even as his younger brother spoke on his behalf and received this rebuke for his trouble. He stood with his arms crossed, appearing to observe the situation from a distance.
“Did I not tell you? The Emperor himself has commanded this.”
Gong Chin Wang spoke coldly. It was clear from his expression that he was displeased by how these men, like moths to a flame, kept throwing themselves at the matter despite the weight of an Imperial Decree behind it.
“I won’t pretend your insolence is new, but don’t dare make light of the Emperor’s word.”
“Elder brother, surely you jest.”
Sun Heung Gun cast his eyes downward in denial. Though the Emperor himself—now nearly ancient—and Gong Chin Wang were people they need not fear, they could not conduct themselves shamelessly in their very presence.
“Stop meddling and either commit to serving your house through participation in the bureau, or keep silent.”
Under Gong Chin Wang’s piercing gaze, several hands rose. Those who volunteered and those who were reluctantly pushed forward were plainly distinguishable by their expressions.
Sun observed the behavior of the imperial relatives quietly from the rear. The factional divisions had long been established, but in this extreme situation, they became far more visible.
Without warning, Ui Jeong Dae Gun occupied the position of authority in the State Funeral proceedings. The fact that his younger brother had been mentioned at all seemed to displease him, and the sight of his petulant display and the relatives scrambling to placate him was pitiful to behold.
‘Now I understand why Father refused to come.’
Sun sat quietly, turning the matter over in his mind.
Ui Jeong Dae Gun was a man of gentle disposition. With such an age gap between him and his elder brothers, he had little to covet, and his natural temperament was not one to harbor excessive ambition.
When the position of Chief Director of the Guk Sang Do Gam fell to him instead of Ui Gu Dae Gun, what Ui Jeong Dae Gun felt was fear. He protested to Sun that his second brother was not such a bad man, yet he could not hide his dread of him.
Even today bore this out. It would have been better had Father come to the Jong Chin Hoe meeting and tempered Ui Gu Dae Gun’s arrogance somewhat.
But Father had refused attendance with every excuse under the sun. As if avoiding this single day would mean never having to see him again.
“Well then. Let us move to the next item.”
The meeting continued regardless of Ui Gu Dae Gun’s mood. The imperial relatives who would join the Sam Do Gam to assist with the funeral procedures were decided, and the order for mourning at the Crown Prince’s Funeral Rites was set.
When it came time to select the principal representative to receive the Foreign Envoys who would arrive from each nation for the Crown Prince’s funeral, even Ui Gu Dae Gun, who had remained silent until then, raised his hand—but…….
“Ah. It seems the Emperor has already decided on this matter. Young Pyung Do Jeong shall receive them as principal representative, and in case of necessity, Cheong Yang Hyun Ju and Gyeong An Gun are to assist in rotation.”
He had been beaten to the punch yet again. Though he did not openly lose his temper—perhaps because his own son had been mentioned—his fists visibly trembled, plain to see even from a distance.
Whereupon one of Ui Gu Dae Gun’s loyal followers raised an objection on his behalf. A cousin from among the collateral branches.
“But surely Young Pyung Do Jeong is beneath the rank for such a role?”
Young Pyung Do Jeong, who had been sitting quietly, opened his eyes wide at this sudden attack. Gong Chin Wang cut through the matter swiftly, turning a sharp gaze on his presumptuous cousin.
“What do you mean, beneath rank?”
“It is a State Funeral after a long interval, and surely the face we present to foreign envoys ought to be chosen with care.”
“So what you’re saying is that the Emperor deliberately chose someone beneath his station—Young Pyung Do Jeong?”
The man’s mouth snapped shut at the words of Gong Chin Wang, who stood to him almost like a grandfather.
“Young Poong Bu Jeong, who can barely speak English, is surely of lesser rank and thinner learning than Young Pyung Do Jeong, who has at least studied abroad.”
“Elder uncle, surely you do not mean to say……!”
“This assembly was convened to honor the Crown Prince’s final rites with proper solemnity. Is it truly sane to conduct oneself so disrespectfully?”
Gong Chin Wang’s voice thundered across the room. Young Sun Bu Jeong, sensing he had overstepped, quickly closed his mouth.
“Did you teach your son this vice of refusing to obey the Emperor’s decisions?”
Gong Chin Wang’s gaze now fixed itself upon Ik Heung Gun, father of Young Poong Bu Jeong. The elder hastily seized his son’s arm, looking desperate as he avoided his brother’s eyes.
“For heaven’s sake, can we please proceed with the meeting?”
“Yes. Must everyone keep objecting to every detail?”
Discontent erupted not only from the elderly loyalists of the Emperor’s faction, but also from those who had been observing quietly. Though minimal compared to Ui Gu Dae Gun’s faction, it was not negligible.
Those eager to continue the meeting and those timidly reading Ui Gu Dae Gun’s mood collided. Only Ui Gu Dae Gun himself could mediate between them. Reluctantly, he opened his mouth under the watchful gaze of Gong Chin Wang and the other elders.
“That’s right. We mustn’t obstruct the proceedings. It was decided by the Emperor himself, after all.”
At his single word, Ui Gu Dae Gun’s faction, which had been loudly objecting and causing trouble moments before, began to fall silent.
So easily subdued.
Seeing even those who had shown no clear factional allegiance fall into line revealed how the current flowed. Among the elders, disapproving murmurs could be heard; some even clicked their tongues at Ui Gu Dae Gun’s behavior.
Emboldened by this, Gong Chin Wang resumed the meeting. All eyes gleamed with anticipation that perhaps something might fall their way, and every ear was fixed upon his words.
“And the Emperor furthermore wishes…….”
Gong Chin Wang felt his way through the document, struggling to read the edge of the paper. Though he must have reviewed the agenda with the Emperor beforehand, he labored over the text throughout.
The pattern repeated: his halting recitation, sighs escaping as the desired topic did not appear, and members of the Jong Chin Hoe raising their hands in turn to offer their views.
Hours passed in this manner, and at last Gong Chin Wang, looking far more exhausted than before, declared the meeting adjourned.
Ui Gu Dae Gun, who had built up expectations only to be repeatedly disappointed, could contain himself no longer. One corner of his mouth twisted upward as he suddenly raised his hand.
“Is there something else to be decided?”
Gong Chin Wang shuffled through the papers, and Ui Gu Dae Gun shook his head. The mechanical quality of that slow, deliberate motion made goosebumps rise across Sun’s forearms.
Ui Gu Dae Gun posed his question in a slow, measured tone.
“Did the Emperor not speak of me?”
“Of you?”
He frowned immediately, as though hearing such words for the very first time.
“What am I supposed to say?”
“Didn’t you arrange this gathering to prepare for the State Funeral? If that’s the case, then surely I have a role to play as well. It’s a sorrowful matter, but I am next in line after His Highness.”
“Well. He didn’t say anything particularly specific.”
A soft exhale.
At Gong Chin Wang’s blunt reply, Ui Gu Dae Gun let out an irritated breath. For a cousin more than a decade his senior, it was an act devoid of even minimal courtesy.
Ui Gu Dae Gun swept back his hair and sighed again. The more visibly displeased he became, the more royal relatives shrank back in fear and nervousness.
“I’m being kept from an audience because Her Majesty’s condition is poor. Yet didn’t you meet with our father, Your Highness?”
Ui Gu Dae Gun hurled the words as though seized by jealousy. Gong Chin Wang simply craned his neck forward, regarding him over his spectacles. The look in his eyes was far too cold and callous for one directed at a cousin.
“One wishes one’s children would grow only as one intends, but they always go slightly astray. Usually people call that an individual’s nature.”
“What do you mean by that—”
“But sometimes that nature crosses a line we cannot overlook. My own father—did he ever imagine his children would so brazenly disregard his wishes? Well, you’ve raised children yourself, Ui Gu Dae Gun, so you understand.”
Yeon Chin Wang’s children exchanged glances as though struck, hanging their heads. Of course, some among them straightened their shoulders as though they had nothing to apologize for.
Gong Chin Wang paid no mind to whatever expressions his brothers wore or how they comported themselves, pressing steadily onward.
“Still, one’s children ought to understand their parents’ hearts to some degree—otherwise, what is the point of living?”
“Are you saying now that I have failed to consider his feelings?”
“Is that how you took it?”
Having spoken, Gong Chin Wang raised his thin, bony wrist and brought down the gavel. Tap-tap-tap. The sound of the gavel striking echoed harshly through the silent chamber.
“Ah. Yes—His Majesty did say one thing. That the royal relatives should be discouraged from visiting Dae Jo Jeon.”
Gong Chin Wang concluded with a glacial tone.
“If one truly understands concern for one’s parents, one ought to grasp the meaning behind it.”

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