The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 117

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

Red Dragon Sovereign Episode 117

Chapter 117 — The Empress’s Purpose

The Empress’s first messenger returned bleeding profusely. Two days later, this time a general arrived with dozens of bodyguards to find Yi Hwan.
When the general reached Yi Hwan’s Office Hall, his hawk-like eyes flashed as he looked toward Cheol Mu-ok, who stood guarding the entrance.
“Is he in?”
“Who are you?”
“What did you say?”
“If you wish to see the Prince, declare yourself first.”
Sparks ignited in the general’s eyes at Cheol Mu-ok’s arrogant bearing.
Then it came.
“Let him in.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Cheol Mu-ok turned slightly and made a gesture with his hand for the general to enter. The general glared at Cheol Mu-ok as if he would kill him, then opened the door and stepped inside.
The general gave a shallow bow toward Yi Hwan, who sat with both feet propped on the table.
“I have come to convey the Empress’s wishes, so please correct your posture, Your Highness.”
“Go out and come back in.”
“…Pardon?”
“Are your ears blocked? I said go out and come back in.”
“Your Highness, what are you—”
The general stopped mid-sentence and hastily ducked. Something whistled past his head by a hair’s breadth and shattered against the wall into pieces.
Crack!
It was an ink stone.
The general’s eyes widened as he stared at Yi Hwan. Yi Hwan gazed back at him unmoved and spoke.
“If the same words leave my mouth even one more time, it won’t end as nicely as it did for the one who came before.”
“…!”
Then Deputy Commander Son Young, who had been watching from one side of the Office Hall, stepped forward.
“Please go back out and enter again.”
The general trembled with barely suppressed rage and stepped outside. But he didn’t enter again immediately—he paused to think.
‘What did I do wrong? What exactly did I do wrong that warranted this?’
When nothing came to mind no matter how hard he thought, the general turned to the deputy commander.
The deputy commander also looked as if he had no idea.
Then one of the bodyguards spoke carefully.
“You didn’t perform the military salute.”
“No matter if he’s a prince of the Imperial Clan, a general doesn’t offer a military salute to him.”
“The Prince is simultaneously a member of the Imperial Clan and the Guard Commander. He naturally must abide by military protocol.”
“…!”
At those words, the general frowned.
‘All this over that…?’
The general’s expression showed utter disbelief when his eyes met Cheol Mu-ok’s directly. He glared at him as if he would kill him, then strode back inside.
“Salute!”
“Again.”
“Salute!”
“Is that the only voice you can manage?”
“Salute!”
In the final salute, the sound of blood and phlegm came bubbling up. Cheol Mu-ok, standing outside, let out a stifled laugh.
‘A general saluting until his throat ruptures. That’s almost funny.’

* * *

Yi Tae-ji’s Residence.
Yi Tae-ji’s face contorted strangely as he received the report.
“He was thrown out again?”
“Yes. Whatever happened, his throat was damaged so badly he can barely speak.”
“That baby fool, coddled by the Crown Prince Palace, dares to defy the Empress’s command not once but twice?”
“The Empress is deeply angered as well. It seems an imperial directive to the Crown Prince Palace or the Fourth Prince may soon follow.”
“Hmph! They brought this on themselves—who have they to blame? If the Empress takes direct action, the stalled matters may proceed more swiftly.”
“That is correct.”
Yi Tae-ji’s expression had shifted without notice, and he sipped his tea with deliberate calm.
Clink.
“They say a third envoy is being sent?”
“Yes, sir. That’s what I’ve heard. Though apparently they haven’t yet decided whom to send this time. In my estimation, they’ll likely dispatch someone whom even the Fourth Prince wouldn’t dare treat carelessly.”
“We’ll know soon enough. But what of the Crown Prince? What’s he doing about all this?”
“For several days now, he’s remained solely within the Crown Prince Palace. And if I may speak plainly, doesn’t that strike you as odd?”
“Odd? In what way?”
His aide tilted his head and continued.
“The Fourth Prince’s actions will surely incur the Empress’s displeasure—he must know that. So why does the Crown Prince Palace remain idle? Why no interference?”
“Hmm.”
Yi Tae-ji fell silent, his eyes dimming. Now that it was pointed out, the Crown Prince Palace’s inaction did seem strange.
How could drawing the Empress’s anger benefit the Crown Prince in any way? No matter how he turned it over in his mind, he could see no advantage.
Then why the silence?
‘What scheme are they cooking up this time?’

* * *

Crown Prince Palace.
Yi So’s expression remained unchanged as always. But the face of Gwan Ji-baek, who observed him, had grown exceedingly grave.
“I hear the Empress’s displeasure runs deep. Are you certain it’s wise to indulge the Fourth Prince’s wishes?”
“No great calamity will come from a matter of this scale. The youngest prince expelled those envoys not to defy the Empress, but because of their arrogant bearing. After all, he is an imperial prince of the Imperial Clan. No mere envoy has the right to conduct himself with such presumption. Even if the Empress brings this before the court, the ministers will split in their opinions, and there will be no real problem.”
Yi So finished speaking and offered a slight smile.
“Or so the youngest said. And I agree with him.”
“The Fourth Prince said such a thing?”
“He did.”
“When did he…?”
Yi So took a sip of tea before continuing.
“When the Crown Prince of Zhao Kingdom entered the palace, he told me this situation would arise and we’d handle it just as we are now. He said to simply feign ignorance. He called it psychological warfare of sorts, so I’ve decided to simply watch and wait.”
Gwan Ji-baek’s eyes widened in surprise. Yi So went on.
“The youngest is convinced the Empress means to use Zhao Gwang for something. That’s why he won’t surrender him.”
“Did he say what that something is?”
At this point, Yi So’s brow furrowed slightly.
“He only said I’d know when the time came, so I didn’t press further. He’s proven himself well enough until now—I have no choice but to trust him in this as well.”
Here, Gwan Ji-baek understood something clearly.
Yi So’s faith in Yi Hwan was nearly absolute. Of course, he too trusted Yi Hwan, but whenever he watched him blunder about, he couldn’t help feeling uneasy.
‘If this goes wrong, the backlash could reach His Highness. Yet here he sits, calm as still water….’
Yi So rose to his feet.
“I’m hungry.”
“Shall I have a meal brought, sir?”
“No. Today I’d like to dine with the guards.”
“Very well, sir.”

* * *

Yi Hwan did not leave the barracks from morning until past midday. During that time, not a soul—not even Vice-Commander Son Young—was permitted to enter.
“Could something be troubling him?”
“He’s likely training. He’s not the sort to lock a door on account of worry.”
“Perhaps, but…”
Just then, Go-mi stepped into the corridor.
“Have you come about the report?”
“Yes. Is he in?”
“He is, though at the moment… Is it urgent?”
“Yes. Very much so. But what’s the matter?”
“We’re not sure ourselves.”
Then came a voice.
“Come in.”
The moment Yi Hwan’s voice rang out, Go-mi immediately opened the door and entered. Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae exchanged glances, their shoulders rising in a shrug.

* * *

White vapor rose from Yi Hwan’s body.
Of late, he had been steadily intensifying the demands of his Inner Method cultivation.
“Important information, you say?”
“We’ve confirmed that someone sent by the Empress met with the Zhao Southwest King.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. An informant active in the Zhao Imperial Capital saw it with his own eyes. But the timing is strange.”
“Strange how?”
“The meeting occurred two days before the Empress’s first messenger reached you. If there was any sort of deal between them, messenger letters would have provided ample time to exchange terms.”
Yi Hwan leaned back in his chair.
“So there was some arrangement between the Empress and the Zhao Southwest King, the Empress received the outcome through correspondence, and then sent me a messenger to collect Zhao Gwang? And this preliminary move was intended to set up something larger—is that what you’re saying?”
“It’s only conjecture.”
Yi Hwan interlaced his fingers and his gaze grew sharp.
“Assuming all of this is true, the priority is to determine what they actually want.”
“Precisely.”
“One is maneuvering to seize imperial authority, while the other already has it in all but name. What could they possibly trade? The Zhao Southwest King surely demanded the repatriation of the Crown Prince, so what does the Empress hope to gain by using Zhao Gwang? That’s the crux of it, but…….”
Yi Hwan trailed off as he fixed his gaze on Go-mi. Reading the intent in his eyes, Go-mi’s expression grew troubled.
“Like Hong-wol, the Empress’s access to information is completely sealed off. We should understand it as meaning there are precious few people who can reach classified intelligence.”
“Then we have no choice but to judge by what the Empress does next.”
“Yes. Though one thing we can predict is her demand for the Crown Prince’s repatriation. If you refuse again like before…….”
“The Zhao Southwest King will invoke war. The Empress will use that as a pretext to hurry along Zhao Gwang’s repatriation.”
Yi Hwan broke off and let out a soft laugh.
“To see what the Empress truly intends, I’ll have no choice but to refuse once more.”
“Are you certain that’s wise?”
“Can’t one refusal become three refusals? In any case, you’ve done well.”
“I’ve heard the Empress’s anger is considerable.”
“Whether she’s furious at the refusal itself or at having her messenger beaten—we’ll find out soon enough. The answer will come soon enough. You’ve worked hard; rest now.”
“As you wish.”
As Go-mi was about to leave, Yi Hwan held something out to her.
“I’ve developed another Technique Form. Mastering it will prove quite useful.”
“Thank you!”
Once Go-mi had left, Yi Hwan headed straight to the Rear Courtyard. Bamboo screening enclosed the space, and in its center sat a wooden bathing tub.
Splash!
Yi Hwan submerged himself in the tub.
‘Repatriating someone who has sought asylum is a matter intimately tied to a nation’s pride. The Empress, who surely understands this, must have calculated even the Southwest King’s invocation of war and is plotting something. But what in the world could it be?’
Yi Hwan turned over possibilities and puzzled through them again and again. Yet nothing quite fit.
‘If things play out this way, I can only understand it once the matter erupts, and by then my response will inevitably be delayed…….’
Whoosh!
Yi Hwan set aside his thoughts and ducked his head completely beneath the water.
It was then.
A figure flickered above the surface.
Whoosh!
It was Vice-Commander Son Young.
“Someone has come from the Imperial Palace.”
“Did the Empress send them?”
“No. A Minister Secretary from the Prime Minister’s Office.”

* * *

Yi Hwan regarded the middle-aged man making a bow with an indifferent gaze, toweling his hair dry.
“What brings the Prime Minister’s Office here?”
“The Zhao Imperial Palace has formally demanded the Crown Prince’s repatriation. Absurdly, they claim the Crown Prince was kidnapped rather than sought asylum, and have conveyed that they will not hesitate to wage war if he is not returned.”
“Of course they would. Unless they were fools, they couldn’t demand the return of someone who sought asylum of his own volition. So you’ve come to take Zhao Gwang, then?”
“……Forgive me, but yes.”
“Is this the Empress’s command?”
“Her Majesty said it is a matter of the realm’s honor and cannot possibly be surrendered. However, the Empress and the Six Ministries wish to meet with the Zhao Crown Prince.”
“The Empress said it could not be surrendered?”
“Yes. She made precisely that statement at the Court Assembly.”
Yi Hwan’s eyes shifted.
‘Now, isn’t that interesting?’

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