The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 23

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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 Emperor, Chapter 23

Chapter 23 — The Road to the Imperial Palace (2)

Four days later, Yi Hwan and his company entered a city one day’s journey from the Imperial Capital.
As the most prosperous city in the vicinity of the Imperial Capital, it was incomparably larger, more ornate, and cleaner than any other city they had seen.
Cha Jungyeong whistled low.
“Wow. This is a completely different world.”
Song Cheonmu showed signs of excitement. His home was in this very city.
Cha Jungyeong asked a question.
“Isn’t this near your hometown?”
“Yes. I was born and raised in this city.”
“I suspected as much. You carry yourself well — clearly from a good place. I envy you.”
Song Cheonmu laughed bitterly in response.
“It looks grand and splendid on the surface, but a city this brilliant has just as many shadows hidden behind that light.”
“Even so, it must be a hundred, a thousand times better than my hometown. Compared to this place, that town is…”
Cha Jungyeong’s expression grew wistful as his words trailed off.
“Size and grandeur don’t make a place good, do they?”
“True enough, but still — this place is really something.”
As the two continued their idle conversation, the carriage came to a halt. Looking ahead, they found themselves before an inn of staggering proportions.
Cha Jungyeong’s eyes widened again without measure.
“I’m speechless. Is this really an inn?”
“The Golden Dragon Inn — the largest and most famous establishment in this city.”
“What sort of people stay in a place like this?”
“Mostly high officials and nobility. The imperial family sometimes visits as well.”
As if to prove Song Cheonmu’s words, a row of ornate carriages stood lined up in a courtyard beside the inn — not an empty lot, but a dedicated space for such vehicles.
It was then.
“Make way!”
A sharp cry rang out as three mounted riders came thundering forward. The crowd scattered hastily to the roadside, giving way to the galloping horses.
Cha Jungyeong furrowed his brow.
“Madmen. What do they think they’re doing, riding like that in a place so crowded with people?”
“Lower your voice. They’re from the Gold Embroidered Guard.”
“…!”
Cha Jungyeong, who rarely showed surprise, widened his eyes in alarm.
The Gold Embroidered Guard of Yeon had come to wield a fearsome reputation in these times.
Originally a subordinate organization under the Eastern Chamber, they had somehow risen to an equal footing, and now rumors circulated that they had stepped over the Eastern Chamber itself, wielding absolute, unbounded power.
The backing behind the Gold Embroidered Guard was none other than the Empress and Yi Hwangja.
“Move that carriage aside!”
One of the Gold Embroidered Guard shouted, his voice resonant with martial power.
It was a warning directed at the carriage Yi Hwan occupied. The carriage bore not the imperial banner, but the flag of the military.
Cha Jungyeong, startled a moment before, now wore a grim smile.
“Those fools are about to get their due.”
Song Cheonmu gazed at the carriage.
‘Surely they won’t dare treat the Crown Prince lightly?’
That was when Song Hoe stepped forward and cried out.
“The Crown Prince is within! Halt your horses!”
The Gold Embroidered Guard, who had been charging forward fiercely, heard Song Hoe’s shout and hastily pulled back on their reins.
Whiiii!
As they came to an abrupt stop, dust rose up and swirled toward Yi Hwan, who had just opened the carriage door to step out.
Yi Hwan regarded the mounted figures with indifference. One of the Gold Embroidered Guard, recognizing him, bowed his head while still upon his horse.
“An urgent matter arose and we rode with haste. We beg your forgiveness for our rudeness, Your Highness.”
Yi Hwan stared at the man without speaking.
“Do you bow to Yi Hwangja while mounted as well?”
“When engaged in urgent military operations, such exceptions are permitted.”
“Is that so?”
“May we take our leave?”
“Go ahead.”
“We obey.”
“Wait.”
“…….”
“How is Yi Hwangja faring?”
“My lord, please observe proper courtesy.”
“How does my second brother fare?”
“He is well.”
“Go on.”
Thud-thud-thud!
The Gold Embroidered Guard swept past Yi Hwan and vanished swiftly.
Song Cheonmu and Cha Jungyeong wore expressions of disappointment. They had been intensely curious to see how Yi Hwan—the man who had rendered the Imperial Palace’s messenger utterly helpless—would handle those arrogant guards.
“Let’s head inside.”

* * *

Yi Hwan and his party entered a separate room. The Imperial Palace’s messenger had come along as well.
Yi Hwan drained a cup of wine and spoke.
“Only I and the vice commander enter the Imperial Palace. The rest of you remain here until I return.”
Cheol Muwok asked.
“Will you be all right?”
“Whether I am or not, there’s no help for it. You cannot enter.”
“Then at least allow us to escort you as far as the Imperial Capital.”
“Enough. It’s only a few steps. Rest yourselves.”
Yi Hwan drew a pouch from his robes and extended it toward Song Cheonmu.
“Since we’ve come this far, go home for a time.”
“My thanks. But what is this?”
“A few Myo-an Stones to add to the household. Guard them carefully—you mustn’t lose them.”
“……!”
Cough!
Cha Jungyeong suddenly broke into violent coughing.
The Myo-an Stone was a rare gem whose value was difficult to assess. How many people in this world would give away such precious things as a matter of course, and several at that, simply to help with household expenses?
Yi Hwan handed another pouch to Cheol Muwok.
Thunk!
“A gold ingot inside. Trade it for silver and use it while I’m away. And don’t just laze about idling—do some investigating into the masterless wanderers as well.”
“Understood.”
“The dishes have arrived!”
The servants brought out the food, and the conversation ceased. Shortly after the meal had begun in earnest, Yi Hwan turned to the messenger.
“How many guards are stationed at the Crown Prince’s Palace?”
“There are approximately five hundred in total within the palace grounds.”
“Are there any martial artists among them?”
“Yes. However, their identities are classified as strictly confidential, so even I do not know who they are.”
“Does Yi Hwangja also employ martial artists as bodyguards?”
“Yes. From what I understand, he commands quite a number of them. Similarly, nothing whatsoever is known of their identities.”
“So they’ve classified not just the Crown Prince’s guards, but even those serving Yi Hwangja?”
“It was permitted by the Empress, so no one can raise objections.”
Yi Hwan’s thoughts turned to the Empress.
In his memory, the Empress was a figure who tormented Yi So no less than Yi Hwangja did. It was she who had forced Yi So to depart the Imperial Palace on horseback rather than in a carriage, without even a single guard to attend him.
Yi Hwan posed another question.
“Has the Emperor been seen in audience recently?”
“Since early this year, His Majesty has not attended to state affairs. Instead, the Empress has been managing state matters in his stead.”
‘The Crown Prince collapses suddenly, and the Emperor refrains from state affairs since spring? Something feels off about all this.’
Splash.
Clink.
‘Internal conflict or not, as long as they don’t lay a finger on me, I won’t get involved.’
Yi Hwan said no more.
A short while later, he finished an entire bottle of wine alone and rose first.
“I’m going to rest. Take your time finishing—come upstairs when you’re done.”
“I shall escort you, Commander.”
“No need.”

* * *

Yi Hwan made his way to the guest quarters.
The room occupied the highest floor. As he stepped inside, a dazzling interior unfolded before him—every decoration bore the unmistakable touch of a master craftsman’s hand.
‘They’ve simply thrown money at this place,’ he thought.
Yi Hwan removed his outer robe and opened the window.
From the ninth floor, he could take in the distant reaches of the city at a glance.
‘Has Zhao struck again?’
Concern for the Southern Army Corps drew a bitter smile from him—a worry that had crept in without his notice.
‘How long have we even been together.’
Whoosh!
A curtain caught by the wind veiled his face. As Yi Hwan reached up to brush it aside, voices drifted dimly from the adjacent room.
He could hear conversation coming from next door.
“If the Crown Prince doesn’t wake, will Yi Hwangja be appointed as the new Crown Prince?”
“The situation is shaping up precisely that way. Well, if the Empress pushes Yi Hwangja strongly enough, who would dare object?”
“I heard rumors that the Crown Prince fell to poison—do you know anything about it?”
“You’re speaking dangerous words!”
“There’s only the two of us here—who’s going to hear?”
“The walls have ears, they say. If you don’t want trouble, guard your tongue!”
Yi Hwan’s eyes grew cold.
‘If talk like this is spreading, things have gone too far.’
His thoughts turned to Crown Prince Yi So.
Everyone in the Imperial Palace had wanted nothing more than to avoid him, yet Yi So remained an enigma that Yi Hwan could not fully read.
Most often he’d treated Yi Hwan with cold severity, yet there were undeniable moments of exception. Recently, hadn’t Yi So sent him medicine for his wounds?
In Yi Hwan’s memory, Yi So remained an ambiguous figure—neither one thing nor another.
It was then.
The Gold Embroidered Guards who had strutted about arrogantly in Market Street that early evening were passing directly below.
Yi Hwan’s eyes shifted with lethal intent.
‘Let’s see what they’re made of.’
Light gathered at his middle finger.
It shot silently from his fingertip toward one guard’s crown, without a sound.
Thwack!
“Argh!”
The guard clutched his head with both hands, a sharp cry torn from his throat.
Yi Hwan slipped backward into the shadows where he couldn’t be seen.
“Who goes there!”
“How dare you attack the Gold Embroidered Guard! Show yourself at once!”
Clang-clang!
The shout was followed by the ring of drawn steel.
Yi Hwan lay down on the bed.
‘Came here against my will, but I’ll leave the Imperial Capital as quickly as I can.’
To stay clear of troublesome entanglements.
That was all he desired.

* * *

The next day, Yi Hwan and Song Hoe crossed the city gates of the Imperial Capital with the Imperial Messenger.
‘Still the same.’
The Imperial Capital that remained in his memory from long ago had not changed a whit. If anything, a few new palace halls he didn’t recall had been added.
“Take me to the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
“Should we not pay respects to the Empress first, sir?”
“They wouldn’t receive us anyway, so what’s the point in going.”
“…Yes, sir.”
The Imperial Messenger led Yi Hwan toward the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Even from a distance, it was unmistakable. He had entered it once as a child, though the memory had grown hazy.
As they drew near the Crown Prince’s Palace, a sharp, palpable vigilance emanated from every corner.
Yi Hwan’s eyes gleamed with interest.
‘Security like this within the palace itself?’
It was unusual.
Yi Hwan turned to the Imperial Messenger.
“Is the security always this tight?”
“Security has been tightened considerably since the Crown Prince collapsed.”
“Has Yi Hwangja been by at all?”
“Not since I left the palace.”
It was then that a general approached.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
Yi Hwan recognized him at once—he was the general who had always shadowed Crown Prince Yi So like a silent guardian.
“It’s been a long time, General.”
“To see you in such robust health is a relief indeed. Please, come in.”
‘What’s with this sudden warmth?’
The general had been icily stern whenever dealing with that boy before. Yet now his manner was almost welcoming.
Yi Hwan followed the general’s lead and stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the threshold, a razor-sharp tension hung in the air—not merely tense, but uncanny.
Yi Hwan glanced back at Song Hoe. The man’s face was drawn tight with anxiety, his breathing audibly strained.
“How is the Crown Prince?”
“Fortunately, he regained consciousness this morning.”
‘So he did.’
“What’s his condition?”
“The Royal Physician has offered no assessment yet.”
Just then, an elderly man of refined bearing stepped out, and his gaze locked directly with Yi Hwan’s.
The old man’s eyes widened, and he hurried forward with quick, shuffling steps, bowing deeply.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
“It’s been long, Royal Physician.”
The old man was the Royal Physician himself.
Yi Hwan retained a vivid memory of tending to that boy a few times in childhood.
“Let’s speak for a moment.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
As Yi Hwan and the Royal Physician withdrew, the general turned to Song Hoe and asked:
“Has the Crown Prince made a full recovery?”
“Yes. Though he does suffer some lingering aftereffects.”
“Aftereffects?”
“In passing through that brush with death, his memory sustained minor damage. As a result, his manner toward others may differ from before, and I would ask that you not misinterpret anything he might do or say.”
“Beyond that, there are no other aftereffects?”
“None. He is in excellent health otherwise.”
The general nodded silently in acceptance.
Song Hoe, seeing that the general seemed to understand, felt a weight lift from his chest.
‘He needs to leave the palace soon.’
Yi Hwan’s transformed temperament.
It was Song Hoe’s greatest source of unease. And of all places, this was the Imperial Palace. If he behaved here as he did in the Southern Army Corps, there was no telling what disaster might unfold.
‘This will cost him years of his life. Sigh…’

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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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