The Dragon Family’s Beloved Baby Cat - Chapter 102

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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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Chapter 102

***

The next morning.

Jin Saheon visited Gyeonganggung.

“I heard about last night’s incident.”

“Sigh… Staying in the Imperial Palace seems… difficult.”

“I share the same thought.”

Jin Saheon nodded.

“The advice you wish to seek from me would be regarding strategies, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“I will present Your Highness with several strategies.”

Danhwi looked at Jin Saheon with desperate eyes.

Though he vaguely felt he needed to leave the palace, he wasn’t certain if it was the right choice.

After all, he had been confined to the palace due to the Emperor’s surveillance and hadn’t received proper education.

“First.”

Jin Saheon raised one finger.

“There is a method of taking refuge in one of our Twelve Families.”

“Taking refuge…”

“It would be safe for now. Even the Emperor would find it difficult to reach into the strongholds of the Twelve Families.”

“That won’t do. I cannot burden the families that have just sided with me. The Emperor would brand each Sega as traitors just to capture me.”

“That is wise.”

Jin Saheon nodded as if Danhwi’s reasoning made sense.

“There are also methods of submitting to the Emperor or going into hiding somewhere…”

“I dislike both options.”

Danhwi spoke firmly.

“Submission would be worse than death, and hiding is running away. I… must return someday.”

A subtle light flashed in Jin Saheon’s eyes, as if he felt proud.

“Then lastly, there is the method of going to the Borderlands.”

“The Borderlands?”

“The northern battlefields.”

The Dan Empire was the most powerful empire in this world, blessed by the Heavenly Deity, but it wasn’t the only nation.

Strictly speaking, there remained a few small nations including barbarian tribes in the colder northern regions.

Since they always coveted the blessed lands and wanted to move south, the border regions were still experiencing ongoing minor battles.

“If it’s a battlefield… wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

“It is dangerous. But there are also advantages.”

Jin Saheon continued his calm explanation.

“First, it’s difficult for the Emperor’s reach to extend there. In the border regions, the power of the Sega responsible for that area is greatest.”

Sending assassins to the border regions during wartime would not be an easy task.

Once trust was gained on the battlefield, there would also be many military officers around to protect Danhwi, which was another advantage.

“Also, being able to achieve military merit is an advantage. If Your Highness personally goes to the battlefield and achieves merit, it creates justification.”

“Justification?”

“You can gain the support of the people and soldiers. It becomes difficult for the Imperial Faction to brand Your Highness as a traitor.”

“That… is a very important matter.”

“You could also establish a foundation in the military. The Emperor has not yet seized control of the Twelve Families, especially the military side.”

The Previous Emperor was a conquering emperor who kept the military close during his youth.

Realizing that his eldest son was not emperor material, he prevented him from getting close to the military at all.

Due to this influence, the current Emperor had not seized control of any military forces except for the Imperial Guards in the Imperial Palace.

“The military…”

“The Inhoesega that helped Your Highness this time is the guardian family of the northeast. My father is an old comrade-in-arms with the previous head of Inhoesega. You can utilize those connections.”

Besides that, the Chukwu Clan responsible for the northwest was another axis in charge of military affairs.

The fact that Inhoesega, which controlled half of the military’s upper ranks, sided with Danhwi even temporarily was tremendous power.

Danhwi fell into thought for a moment before murmuring.

“Dangerous, but… you’re saying I can build strength.”

“That’s correct.”

Danhwi closed his eyes.

There were several options, but practically only one he could choose.

Jin Saheon knew this too, but couldn’t openly recommend the battlefield to a nine-year-old child, so he gave options on the surface.

Jin Saheon looked at his lord, who was the same age as his children, with pitying eyes.

“…I will go to the Borderlands.”

After careful consideration, Danhwi opened his eyes.

“I will endure there. Build strength and… return someday.”

Danhwi’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“…It is a wise decision.”

Jin Saheon bowed his head.

“In fact, I had reached the same conclusion.”

“…Had you?”

“I have already contacted Inhoesega. I received a reply that they would welcome Your Highness.”

Danhwi looked at Jin Saheon.

This person was moving one step ahead of him.

‘Better than family…’

If only the Emperor hadn’t driven him into such a corner, he wouldn’t have thought of killing his older brother.

Danhwi hid his lonely and cold heart.

“Thank you.”

“It’s only natural. However… when Your Highness goes to the Borderlands, our family must guard your vacant position in the Imperial Palace.”

“I understand.”

“The Imperial Faction will try to brand Your Highness as a traitor or work to depose you. We will stop them.”

“…I ask this of you.”

Danhwi bowed his head.

“And…”

Jin Saheon paused and hesitated for a moment.

Since Jin Saheon, who had been speaking smoothly throughout, was taking his time, Danhwi looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“I will tell Moa myself.”

“…Will that be alright?”

“She will cry. But that child will understand. She’s stronger than you think.”

“…I understand.”

Danhwi nodded.

He murmured to himself.

‘I’m sorry, Moa.’

There was nothing in this Imperial Capital that he found precious or regrettable anyway.

He had almost nothing that was truly his.

However, only Moa held him back.

If he went to the battlefield, he wouldn’t be able to see Moa for a while, probably several years…

‘If I see you now… I think I’ll waver.’

***

Shortly after, Danhwi left the Imperial Palace.

Officially, it was under the pretext that ‘the Crown Prince is going to personally inspect the war situation at the Borderlands.’

Unofficially, there was also the justification that ‘regardless of the reason, since he endangered the Emperor’s sacred body, as both younger brother and subject, he would serve in the military and reflect.’

Thanks to handling it quickly while the Emperor lost consciousness again, he was able to escape safely.

The Imperial Faction opposed it, but it barely succeeded thanks to the Five Families pushing it through.

In Danhwi’s carriage leaving the Imperial Palace, one more person was riding along.

It was Physician Siheon.

“I’m sorry for blocking your path ahead. Still, I feel reassured that you’re coming with me.”

“…Those words are far too generous, Your Highness!”

Siheon’s ears turned red.

He would have found it difficult to remain in the Imperial Palace anyway.

Once the Emperor fully regained his senses, he would surely be furious about Danhwi’s escape and extend his wrath even to the mere physician who had saved him.

“I was already in a position where it would be difficult to shine as a court physician in the Imperial Palace anyway.”

“…Is that so?”

The fact that he had been sent alone to treat and care for Danhwi from the beginning meant that Siheon was expendable.

“Though I may not look it, I am quite old. However, the reason I’ve remained a mere physician rather than becoming a proper doctor is because I’ve been greatly ostracized.”

Not all commoners were treated equally.

Looking at the current court physicians’ backgrounds, even though they were commoners, they all came from wealthy families.

However, Siheon had only knocked on the palace gates to reduce the burden on his poor family.

Moreover, with his limp, they wouldn’t promote him to physician despite his actual medical skills not being lacking.

“Such discrimination shouldn’t happen in promotions!”

“Haha… That’s why I will follow Your Highness. It’s best if you don’t get injured, but should you ever be hurt, I will certainly help you!”

Though he had tasted helplessness at Gyeonganggung, Siheon now felt much more confident.

Not only had Danhwi acknowledged him with gratitude, but the Jinryong Clan had also promised to support the battlefield with medical supplies.

This was promised under the condition that he would serve as both Danhwi’s personal physician and act as a eunuch to attend to his personal needs.

At Gyeonganggung, he hadn’t received proper medical supplies or manpower support, and seeing the unprecedented condition of damaged divine power circuits had frightened him into not displaying his skills properly.

“Yes, I’ll trust and rely on you. Please take good care of me from now on.”

Danhwi spoke to Siheon while gazing quietly at the receding palace rooftops.

‘I’ll return someday, Moa. When that time comes… I’ll be stronger.’

One side of his chest ached.

***

Two weeks later, Jin Ryong Manor.

“Moa!”

Yeongang came running while waving something white.

Moa, who had been sitting blankly in the backyard, turned her head to look at Yeongang.

“Oppa?”

“A letter came for you! From the borderlands!”

Moa’s eyes widened.

“From oppa?!”

“Yes, it has the Crown Prince’s official seal!”

Moa hurriedly ran over and took the letter envelope.

The letter envelope she received with anticipation was…

‘What? Isn’t this an empty envelope?’

It was far too thin to contain a properly folded letter inside.

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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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