The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 196

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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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Red Dragon Heavenly Emperor — Episode 196

Chapter 196 — The Art of Restraining Laughter

The final day of the Ancestral Rite.
All the imperial family gathered in one place to enjoy refreshments. Partaking of refreshments after concluding the rite and before parting ways was an ancient tradition of the imperial house.
Usually, considerable history unfolded at such gatherings. Thus the entire imperial family attended. When the members, judging that the tide had turned in the Empress’s favor, competed to speak pleasantries for her attention, Yi So drank his tea in silence.
Yi Seong-ji, the Third Prince seated across from him, glanced at Yi So from time to time without uttering a single word.
Yi Tae-ji was the most delighted of all.
At this Ancestral Rite, he had come to understand anew: the hearts of the imperial family had turned completely toward the Empress.
That meant his chances of becoming the next Emperor were high, and he could not keep the smile from his face.
Yi So was displeased. He simply wished for this rite to end quickly.
Then Yi Tae-ji spoke to him.
“There are sinister rumors circulating in Chang-an concerning the Fourth Prince. Have you perhaps heard them?”
Yi So set down his teacup and fixed his gaze on Yi Tae-ji.
“It seems improper to discuss mere rumors in the presence of so many elders of the imperial house.”
“But it is a matter directly concerning the security of the imperial house, so I would argue it is not improper.”
“What rumor would that be?”
When one of the princes interjected, Yi Tae-ji launched into the matter at once.
“Not long ago, there was an incident in which one of my confidants was poisoned to death. Most hideously, the assassin used poison to dissolve my confidant’s face until only bone remained. As all of you know, this nation strictly regulates poison. Anyone who carelessly leaks or uses poison must face punishment. The rumor spreading is that this vile creature and the Fourth Prince are absolutely not without connection. Surely we should investigate and determine whether this is baseless gossip or truth, yes?”
The imperial family stirred restlessly.
One of the princes spoke up in agreement.
“If rumors circulate that someone has connected with one who violated National Law, surely we must investigate and clarify, must we not?”
“Indeed. If a member of the imperial family has colluded with one who violated National Law, this is a grave matter that could shake the very foundation of the imperial house — we must launch an investigation at once!”
Yi So smiled bitterly. The way this situation unfolded, like a well-crafted script, was beyond pathetic — it bordered on absurd.
He turned his gaze to the Empress and asked.
“I seek to hear Your Majesty’s intention.”
“If such rumors are circulating, surely we must determine their truth, yes? For the Fourth Prince’s honor, if nothing else.”
Since this was a gathering where all the imperial family was present, the Empress answered Yi So with proper courtesy.
“I understand. Then let us discuss it tomorrow in a meeting where the court ministers are assembled.”
Yi Tae-ji added one more comment.
“If it proves to be true, what will you do then? Why not first reveal your intention here and now, elder brother?”
Yi So looked directly at Yi Tae-ji.
Then it happened.
Bang!
The door swung open, and a shadow stretched long across the floor.
Everyone who caught sight of the shadow was mildly startled. Yi So was no exception.

* * *

Yi Hwan entered the Ancestral Hall.
He paid no heed to the gazes directed toward him and looked only at Yi So.
Yi So smiled and turned to greet him.
“Welcome, brother.”
“I apologize for my lateness.”
Yi Hwan walked across the middle of the Ancestral Hall.
At that moment, one of the princes cried out.
“How dare you set foot in the Ancestral Hall without performing the Removing Sword ceremony!”
Yi Hwan was currently wearing a sword.
Yi Hwan turned to face the prince. He did not remember the man.
“The Empress granted me permission.”
……!
The Empress’s face flushed slightly. In the expansion of the Gold Guard’s authority that she had approved, there was certainly a provision stating that the Guard Commander need not perform the Removing Sword ceremony while within the palace.
It was a provision created for the purpose of intimidating the court officials by installing a confidant in the position of Guard Commander.
“Why have you come to the Ancestral Hall now that all is finished?”
“I have something to report.”
Yi Hwan continued at once.
“I intend to relocate the Gold Guard Command Center into the palace. So I thought I should inform the Empress first and came by for that reason.”
“When you leave, you leave—but now you come back again? Is the Imperial Palace so easy to enter and exit as you please?”
“We established a temporary command center outside the Imperial Palace to respond swiftly to the increasingly savage Demonic Creatures—or rather, the Yeok Cheon-hoe, as they should be called. In any case, now that their movements have grown quiet, it’s only proper to return to our original headquarters. There should be no problem whatsoever.”
“……!”
Yi Hwan watched the Empress, at a loss for words, then turned his gaze to Yi Tae-ji.
“And there is one more reason I’ve come to this place, unwelcome as it is.”
Yi Hwan approached Yi Tae-ji.
Yi Tae-ji asked with a sneer.
“Hmph! What business could you possibly have with me?”
“A short time ago, your murdered aide—just before his death, a horse handler lost his speech, and you had six people from the Stable slaughtered for it. Did you know about that?”
Whispers erupted.
The royal family stirred again.
But Yi Tae-ji paid them no mind.
“If an official loses his speech, he deserves punishment. I know my subordinates were harsh, certainly, but what does that have to do with me? Surely you don’t think I ordered them to kill?”
“That’s something we can determine through investigation, isn’t it?”
“What? Are you saying you’ll investigate me?”
“The Empress herself has explicitly stated it in the new decree. The Guard Commander has authority to investigate crimes committed by members of the royal family.”
Yi Hwan turned to the Empress.
The Empress could only glare with indignation, saying nothing. Because it was the truth.
Yi Hwan turned back to Yi Tae-ji.
“An important imperial ceremony must be conducted today, so report to our Gold Guard Command Center before noon tomorrow. Should you fail to comply, appropriate measures will follow. See that you do not forget, and do not be late.”
A tremor ran through him.
Yi Hwan turned away from the flushing Yi Tae-ji and headed toward the place where incense had been lit.
[Stop here.]
Yi So’s concerned Mental Transmission reached him.
[I am still a member of the royal family, after all—shouldn’t I light incense and bow?]
At Yi Hwan’s answer, a faint smile flickered across Yi So’s lips.
Yi Hwan lit the incense and bowed.
The expressions of the Empress and Yi Tae-ji watching him, as well as Yi Seong-ji and the other royal family members, were all different.
Shortly after finishing his bow, Yi Hwan lowered his head respectfully to the Empress and Yi So, then moved toward the entrance of the Ancestral Hall.
Before leaving, he did not forget to address the royal family.
“Petitions against the tyranny of the royal family continue without end. Therefore, we will soon begin a comprehensive investigation. If any of you has anything that might cause problems, I advise you to come to me beforehand and seek help. Informally, I can overlook certain matters, but once the official investigation begins and suspicions are proven true, no amount of royal blood can shield you from the penalties of National Law. That is all.”
Yi Hwan departed.
As the royal family’s murmuring grew louder, Yi So calmly lifted his teacup to his lips.
For the first time in his life, he understood what it meant to struggle so hard to hold back laughter.

* * *

That night, Yi Tae-ji summoned Mun I-jong.
Face to face, Yi Tae-ji spoke his mind.
“We must hurry to kill Yi Hwan.”
“That would be difficult to do immediately.”
“What do you mean?”
“Over two days, many of our subordinates have been killed in attacks by the Yeok Cheon-hoe. We have mobilized all available forces to search for their stronghold.”
“……!”
“I was meaning to report this anyway, but we’ve obtained intelligence that their target has shifted from the Fourth Prince to Your Highness. Therefore, we had no choice but to temporarily halt our pursuit of the assassin who killed Your Highness’s aide and commit all forces to this new threat.”
Bang!
The teacup on the table flew in all directions.
“Are you telling me the assassins of Hongwol are so weak they cannot handle mere Demonic Creatures? And you should have left the search for their stronghold to the Gold Robed Guard!”
“As I said, their target has shifted to Your Highness. Surely nothing takes greater priority than Your Highness’s safety. That is why I made that decision.”
“This is infuriating…….”
Mun I-jong continued speaking calmly to the agitated Yi Tae-ji.
“Why not seek the aid of Manhwa Palace? Their assassins would certainly be able to accomplish Your Highness’s will.”
Bang!
Yi Tae-ji struck the table again with his fist and rose abruptly.
“I’m beginning to wonder if appointing you as Chief of the Gold Robed Guard was a mistake. Can a person really be so incompetent?”
Yi Tae-ji left in a cold fury. Mun I-jong straightened from his bow and his gaze hardened.
A twitch.
His eyelid flickered with a fine spasm.
In truth, he was as angry as Yi Tae-ji. Over two days, nearly thirty assassins of Hongwol had been killed. And by the hands of the Yeok Cheon-hoe, whom he had deemed insignificant.
It was a severe blow to him. But what concerned Mun I-jong more was something else entirely.
If Hong Wol’s power weakened, not only Yi Tae-ji but even the Empress herself might turn away from him. Thus, he could hardly dismiss Yi Tae-ji’s words about reconsidering the position of Grand Chamberlain.
‘I must produce results somehow. The surest way is to take the Fourth Prince’s head. But that’s difficult right now. If I could…….’
Something had to be done about the Yeok Cheon-hoe.
So he redirected all the troops that had been pursuing Yang Chan toward searching for the Yeok Cheon-hoe’s base of operations.
There was a strategy to it.
‘If I can find the Yeok Cheon-hoe’s base that even the Gold Guard hasn’t discovered, I can turn the entire situation around in one stroke.’
This was precisely it.
Yet Yi Tae-ji had been raging far more violently than usual. Mun I-jong had expected him to be pleased by the show of total effort for his security.
‘What happened now?’
Not knowing what had transpired at the Ancestral Hall, Mun I-jong could only find Yi Tae-ji’s behavior bewildering.
It was then that someone entered—one of Yi Tae-ji’s close attendants.
“Forgive the outburst, sir. The Fourth Prince came to the Ancestral Hall today and sent word that you are to report to the Guard Command Center by tomorrow. That is why he is so enraged.”
A twinge ran through him.
“Report to the Gold Guard Command Center?”
“Yes, sir. Apparently it concerns the brutal slaying of the stable personnel by my late colleague. It seems His Highness has summoned you as a person of interest.”
Mun I-jong could not comprehend it.
“Simply refuse to go, then.”
“When the Empress elevated the Gold Guard’s authority not long ago, she included the imperial clan within the scope of investigation. Refusing to appear would damage the Empress’s authority, so attendance is unavoidable.”
“She granted them that much authority?”
“Alas…….”
Yi Tae-ji’s attendant sighed and continued.
“Who could have foreseen this? Everyone was certain the Fourth Prince was dead when they elevated it, yet it has become a blade that strangles us instead…….”
Bang!
Mun I-jong brought both hands down hard upon the table. Now that he understood the full account, his fury only deepened rather than subsiding.
‘Standing behind the Empress yet enduring nothing but setbacks—who does he blame!’
Clench.
Mun I-jong squeezed his eyes shut, fighting to suppress the rage that threatened to boil over.
Outmaneuvered again by Yi Hwan. He had even devised a plan to entrap him through Yang Chan, yet Yi Hwan had moved first—something he’d never imagined.
What infuriated him most was the sensation that Yi Hwan held all circumstances in the palm of his hand, observing from above.
‘Could it be that he orchestrated the deaths of my subordinates as well…….’
Then Yi Tae-ji’s attendant ventured a question.
“They say the Gold Guard Command Center is to be moved into the Imperial Palace—did you know of this?”
Mun I-jong’s eyes flashed with sudden intensity.
“The Fourth Prince said so himself?”
“I heard him say it plainly at the Ancestral Hall.”
‘Moving into the Imperial Palace?’
Grip.
‘Walking into the Imperial Palace of his own volition. Is Heaven finally granting me this golden opportunity?’
From Mun I-jong’s perspective, it was indeed a golden opportunity.
If the target were someone who needed to enter the palace from outside, that would be one matter. But if it were someone already within the Imperial Palace itself, assassinating a figure surrounded by only a limited retinue might be far simpler than targeting someone protected by vast military forces without.
And he could count on the direct assistance of the Empress besides.
A twinge.
What was he contemplating?
Mun I-jong’s face twisted anew.
‘If one thinks on it even briefly, the magnitude of this opportunity becomes undeniable. Yet he thrashes about like a wild boar with its tail ablaze, accomplishing nothing…….’
What consumed his mind was Yi Tae-ji himself.
Mun I-jong confirmed it afresh: Yi Tae-ji was decidedly not fit to be emperor.
‘It matters not who becomes emperor. I need only to take that one’s head.’
In the end, Yi Hwan—the son-killer—surged to the forefront of Mun I-jong’s mind, pushing Yi Tae-ji aside.
‘There is no burial ground more fitting for a prince than the Imperial Palace itself.’

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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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