Royal Coup d'État - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 29
A vast hall. Yi Gu Daegun stood at its center. Cascades of attention poured down upon him. One glance at his expression was enough to reveal how desperately he had longed for this moment.
Gong Chin Wang regarded his cousin with cold eyes.
His face bore arrogance, with not a trace of imperial dignity or sense of responsibility.
Those who didn’t know him praised his leadership and drive, calling him ideal material for an emperor, but to Gong Chin Wang’s eyes, the truth was unmistakable.
Yi Gu Daegun was someone who would place his own sense of justice above society’s rules. He was neither fit to become an emperor as a model for the nation, nor should he ever become one.
‘There must be a reason His Majesty was wary of him, despite being his own son.’
Watching Yi Gu Daegun made his neck and jaw stiffen. If the Emperor—far more suited to imperial lineage than anyone—had already seen through to the nature of Yi Gu Daegun’s character, he would have done so long ago.
As a member of the imperial family and as the eldest son charged by his father to oversee his uncle, Gong Chin Wang had resolved to carry out the Emperor’s command to the very end.
“I have no intention of making Gyul an emperor.”
He kept replaying that moment when the Emperor had gathered all his forces and made his declaration. How could such words come easily from a man who had already lost two sons and was now preparing to break with one of those who remained? And yet his uncle had remained an emperor even in that instant.
Though Gong Chin Wang had been passed over in the line of succession, he was the most exemplary member of the imperial family. As the Former Emperor’s eldest grandson and first grandchild, he had been raised with abundant affection, and he lacked nothing except for the prohibition against coveting the throne that might have been his father’s.
Of course, unlike his other brothers, he had never regretted the throne his father had willingly relinquished. When Gong Chin Wang was born, his father was already a prince, and his uncle was already the crown prince. The complicated circumstances of his father’s generation were theirs to bear. How could one say something stolen from him when he had never held it to begin with?
“I need time. Time enough that Yi Gu Daegun remains assured and does not turn his gaze elsewhere, yet not so much that what he desires falls into his hands.”
The Emperor had not explained much. After all, was not the Ruler-Subject Relationship built on trust and support?
He had sensed that the Emperor had his own conception of who should be emperor in the future, but the role assigned to him now was not to aid some future successor.
It was to extract the substance from the meeting. To make Yi Gu Daegun himself believe that even if he had not gained much, he had lost nothing.
“Yi Gu Daegun has certainly proven his ability. The Imperial Palace has benefited from his efforts more than once or twice—we cannot dismiss it entirely.”
Gyeong Chin Wang entered the conversation quietly. Gong Chin Wang’s gaze, which had been fixed on his fingertip against his forehead, shifted toward him.
The last two princes in the Imperial Palace.
Though they had inherited their titles nominally as grandsons of the Former Emperor, one could not ignore the hand of the current Emperor in their elevation.
The rank of prince, granted as a courtesy to those brothers who had yielded the throne. A position even Yi Gu Daegun had yet to attain.
Well aware of the weight that came with their stations, both princes were more faithful to the Emperor than anyone.
They accepted even orders that carried a sting to their pride—such as pretending to catch the wind—without the slightest resistance.
“I only said it was a task that naturally needed doing. Your Highness honors me with such praise—I’m embarrassed.”
Yi Gu Daegun’s voice had grown warmer. His contentment shone plainly across his smiling face.
In that moment, Gong Chin Wang lifted his jaw and made a quick study of Gyeong Chin Wang and Su An Gun. With only a few more words of praise for Yi Gu Daegun added, the flow of the conversation moved effortlessly according to plan.
The wind-catching strategy worked so well that even Young Cheong Bu Jung, who had a reputation for being on Yi Gu Daegun’s side, came into agreement. Gong Chin Wang exchanged a subtle glance with them, his smile twisted.
“What do you think, Yi Gu Daegun?”
“Your Highness’s words embarrass me. As a member of the imperial family, how could I dress up what is merely my duty as ‘ability’?”
His lips curled as he continued with false modesty.
“In truth, the agreement with Mirae Automobile was no simple task. The Limousines we provide to the Imperial Palace—the materials, the glass, the coating—all of it requires meticulous attention.”
“There’s no need to say more about that. I myself have witnessed Yi Gu Daegun’s devotion—burning the midnight oil day and night.”
Young Cheong Bu Jung supported him enthusiastically.
“Moreover, did Yi Gu Daegun not also resolve the marriage issues of the imperial family members? Uncle Su An Gun—did not Yi Gu Daegun arrange the match that led to Jeong Pyeong Bu Jung’s marriage?”
“Resolve is too strong a word. There was simply a suitable opening, and I arranged for them to meet. That’s all, isn’t it, Uncle?”
Su An Gun cleared his throat and averted his eyes.
Gong Chin Wang looked over all of them with darkened eyes, his gaze lowered.
Unfortunately, there were now scarcely any members of the imperial family untouched by some connection to Yi Gu Daegun. No matter how firmly they stood with the Emperor, all had received his assistance in some private matter.
The network Yi Gu Daegun had built served a single purpose: to place others in his debt, then exploit those debts to his greatest advantage.
Even the Emperor’s own supporters saw through his intentions plainly, yet sometimes found themselves grasping the devil’s hand—especially when their children’s affairs were at stake. It was a reality that no amount of principled objection from Gong Chin Wang could change.
“In any case, having been born the son of an emperor and having lived with the respect of the nation, I have always held duty as my highest principle.”
At this nauseating speech, Gong Chin Wang—who had been absently brushing his own arm—lifted his head. He found himself suddenly curious about the expressions of the others who had been forced to attend this tedious spectacle.
He scanned past Su An Gun, who had grown uncomfortable at the mention of his own son, and surveyed the imperial relatives seated behind him.
His younger siblings and nephews, seeming to affirm Yi Gu Daegun’s words and feigning attention. Relatives in the corners, brows deeply furrowed in disapproval of his shamelessness. And allies of his own, quietly observing the proceedings under orders from the Emperor.
And then.
‘Was this His Majesty’s true intention?’
Sound seemed to become muffled, as though something were lodged in his ears. Yi Gu Daegun’s voice droned on noisily, but Gong Chin Wang hardly heard him. His entire attention had fixed upon the figure seated directly across from him.
Eyes that never blinked, fixed on Yi Gu Daegun with an intensity that burned. A body held rigid as iron. A scorn that leaked out in scattered fragments.
This went far deeper than mere distaste for Yi Gu Daegun’s reckless behavior. It was anger with ancient roots.
It was Yi Seon, the Lord of Cheongyang County. Until moments ago, Gong Chin Wang had thought him young enough to be occupied with his phone—but now his expression revealed something entirely different.
‘Anger is often the strongest driving force.’
The tension that had gripped Gong Chin Wang’s body slowly began to ease. As a member of the imperial family, he acknowledged Seon’s qualities himself.
In his seventies now, beset increasingly by illness, he had missed much official business. Yet reports still reached him.
This nation’s people are both indifferent to and lavish in their affection for the Imperial Palace. When they fulfill their duties and step forward with confidence, the nation’s support follows naturally.
If the Emperor has chosen not someone else, but the Lord of Cheongyang County, then the nation will support that choice as well.
Gong Chin Wang slowly straightened the shoulders he had allowed to bend. Yi Gu Daegun, who had suddenly jumped to his feet and spread both arms wide in display of his achievements, came into sharper focus.
At the very least, he would not permit this man to become emperor. Not as a loyal subject. Not as a member of the imperial family.
“What role Yi Gu Daegun has played in the Imperial Palace—this old cousin has witnessed it all.”
To cut short a speech that showed no signs of ending, Gong Chin Wang raised his right hand. Yi Gu Daegun, at least possessing some sense of the moment, closed his mouth and looked at him with innocent eyes.
How contemptible.
Gong Chin Wang’s lips twisted.
All the pretense in the world—feigned innocence, forced cheerfulness, every calculated mask—could never conceal what lay beneath. And hadn’t the court whispered about how coldly he discarded relatives and retainers who became inconvenient to him? A man so quick to abandon others would hardly hesitate to do worse.
The accident involving Yi Young Daegun. He remembered clearly the emotion that had crossed the Emperor’s face when they were finally forced to bury that death shrouded in mystery.
Why his uncle had suspected the second son. The reason had never fully emerged, yet he understood now why the caution had persisted all these years.
It all stemmed from that corrupt nature—how could he not see it?
“Now that the successor who has long protected the Imperial Palace has vanished, I understand well enough that swift resolve is called for. Yet it’s equally true there are matters worthy of deeper consideration.”
Still, Gong Chin Wang barely loosened his jaw and fixed Yi Gu Daegun with the most neutral expression he could muster.
He hadn’t managed to compose his features into anything pleasant, but it differed little from his usual bearing, so suspicion would not take root. To steer this game according to the Emperor’s design. To offer Yi Gu Daegun whatever small reassurance he could.
“I should like to hear Yi Gu Daegun’s thoughts on the matter.”

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