The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 53

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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 Undefeated – Episode 53

Chapter 53 – Going All In

Yi Hwan stood by the window, studying Yi Yeong intently.
His gaze as he looked at Wang Jigyeong was far from ordinary. It struck him anew how much she had changed from his former memory of her.
Yi Yeong stepped forward.
“We still have quite some time before the agreed date. What brings you to request a meeting now?”
Wang Jigyeong took a sip of tea before speaking.
“I came hoping to propose a mutually beneficial arrangement between us.”
“Are we the sort to do business together?”
“Let us forget the past and hear me out first. It would be no loss for you, I assure you.”
“Very well. I’ll listen and judge for myself.”
Wang Jigyeong took another sip of tea.
Yi Hwan sensed instinctively that he was about to say something tremendously difficult. It only deepened his curiosity.
Wang Jigyeong opened his mouth.
“Connect me with the Crown Prince, and I will accept only the principal—no interest.”
‘He’s lost his nerve.’
Even as Yi Hwan suppressed a smile, Yi Yeong’s voice rang out like thunder through the room.
“How dare you! A mere merchant speaking the Crown Prince’s name in such a manner!”
“……!”
Her reaction startled Yi Hwan even more.
Yi Yeong’s voice, sharp as an ax blade, continued.
“Unless you wish to taste the rod, remove yourself at once!”
“Your Highness, please compose yourself and hear me out to the end.”
“Silence! I will hear no more. Go, now!”
Her eyes blazed with fury as she glared down at him. Yi Hwan, watching her, could scarcely contain his amusement.
‘No need to worry for your sister. You can depart in peace, boy.’
The previous master of this body had thought of Yi Yeong at his final moment. Nearly all his memories held only concern and love for her.
Song Cheon-ho spoke up.
“I shall forget that such words were ever spoken. It is best you take your leave now. And see that you pay the accumulated interest on the appointed date—do not mention the Crown Prince again.”
‘Indeed, a well-ordered household.’
Yi Hwan studied Wang Jigyeong.
Though only his back was visible, his neck had flushed a deep red.
It was then.
Yi Yeong’s voice turned on Yi Hwan.
“And you! A warrior standing there like that—what manner of bearing is this? Cannot you straighten your posture?”
“…….”
Yi Hwan glanced down at himself and quietly adjusted his stance. Until now he had been standing with arms crossed and legs obliquely twisted.
“My apologies, Your Highness.”
Yi Hwan bowed his head.

* * *

Snort-snort!
“Cursed fools, preening about their imperial dignity like that!”
Wang Jigyeong snorted like an enraged boar.
Yi Hwan ventured quietly:
“It seems you gave up rather quickly.”
“Did you not see it yourself? The way she glared with those eyes, shouting like that! What was I supposed to do in that moment?”
“The only force that can stop the Hwangryong Trading Company’s tyranny is the Crown Prince Palace itself, is it not? Then no matter what, you must win their favor.”
“And that is exactly why I offered to waive the interest! Don’t vex me further—let it be!”
Wang Jigyeong’s face had turned so red it looked ready to burst.
Yi Hwan had no intention of backing down.
“Why not go all in this time? Make a proper show of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“For a man as wealthy as you, is not money itself the most potent weapon? Then why not forgo even the principal? I assure you—they will bend to your will.”
“Do you have any idea how much the principal is?”
“How much?”
“A full hundred thousand silver! A hundred thousand! And you want me to give it up? What kind of nonsense is that!”
It was a figure that made one gasp.
Which only made him more relentless.

Wang Jigyeong earns tens of thousands of silver annually through his moneylending operations.

Yi Hwan spoke calmly, recalling Go Mi’s words.
“If you cling to a hundred thousand silver and his moneylending takes a blow, won’t your losses be far greater? That’s what I think, at least—the decision is yours to make. I’m simply offering counsel because I hope my employer prospers. I mean no offense.”
Yi Hwan finished speaking and turned to his guards.
“Escort the gentleman back to his residence.”

* * *

That night.
Yi Hwan met with Go Mi.
“I’d like you to deliver this to the Song Family residence.”
Go Mi accepted the letter tube that Yi Hwan held out.
“Understood.”
“Aren’t you curious what it is?”
“Not particularly. I simply follow your orders.”
“…….”
“Is there anything else you wish to tell me?”
“Tell them I’ll visit soon.”
“Understood. Then I’ll go.”
“Wait!”
Yi Hwan called out to Go Mi, who was turning to leave.
“And deliver this to the Crown Prince Palace as well.”
“To the Crown Prince Palace, sir?”
“Yes—it’s very important. You must deliver it without fail.”
“Understood. But if the Crown Prince asks about your whereabouts, what should I tell him?”
“Everything’s written inside. Just deliver it.”
“Understood.”
Whoosh!
Go Mi vanished once again, swift as wind.
“…….”

* * *

Late into the night.
Wang Jigyeong sat across from one of his closest advisors.
Empty bottles lay scattered about—a fitting testament to his reputation as a prodigious drinker.
The advisor spoke cautiously.
“I believe his words merit reconsideration. If the Hwangryong Trading Company grows bold, trusting their backing, and enters the moneylending trade, we’ll suffer a devastating blow.”
Wang Jigyeong listened in silence.
The advisor continued.
“It galls me to say it, but this seems our only viable path. We cannot stand against the Hwangryong Trading Company unless we forge a connection with the Crown Prince Palace, can we?”
Glug, glug.
Clink!
Wang Jigyeong said nothing, merely tilting his cup to his lips.
The advisor held his tongue and waited for him to speak.
After draining several more cups, Wang Jigyeong finally opened his mouth.
“Tomorrow we return to his residence.”
“You mean to accept, then?”
“What choice do I have? To stand against jackals like the Hwangryong Trading Company, what other way is there? I’ll simply chalk it up as a charitable donation—a mere hundred thousand silver.”
“Understood. Now put the cup down and get some rest. They say drinking to soothe a wounded heart is no better than poison, sir.”
“I hear you. Now go and get some sleep yourself.”
“Yes. I’ll see you again in the morning. Rest well, sir.”
Once the advisor had withdrawn, Wang Jigyeong drained his cup again and again, then slumped deep into his chair, his gaze growing dull.
“A mere merchant, for all that. When he came begging for a loan, he was all politeness and pleas. And now—a man of illegitimate birth playing the prince before his betters!”
Wang Jigyeong despised being called a merchant. He’d heard it countless times on his way to power, and once he’d seized wealth and authority, he’d ruthlessly crushed every last person who uttered it.
“And that fool should learn to wield a sword properly instead of presuming to lecture anyone!”
His anger turned toward Yi Hwan.
In truth, when Yi Hwan had offered his counsel, Wang Jigyeong had felt a prick of conscience. But pride wouldn’t allow him to accept it—only to rage against it.
A soft laugh escaped him.
Wang Jigyeong suddenly chuckled.
“Still, this is the first time a martial master has dared speak to me that way. All the others just took their coin and kept their eyes on their duty, nothing more.”
Wang Jigyeong rose from his seat and stripped off his robes. As if on cue, the wall before him swung open, and two women stepped into view.
“My spirits are quite unsettled today. You two shall have to soothe my mind.”
“Yes, my lord.”

* * *

The next morning.
Yi Yeong and Song Cheon-ho sipped their tea in quiet conversation. Song Cheon-ho broached a question carefully.
“Will it be all right to proceed as the General-in-Chief intends?”
“My brother surely has his reasons. I hope you’ll trust and follow his lead.”
Song Cheon-ho smiled warmly.
“I follow only the will of my lady, not the General-in-Chief. It has always been so, and always shall be.”
Yi Yeong laughed softly and took Song Cheon-ho’s hand.
“Please don’t say such things. The reason our household has endured all these years is because you’ve kept us steady at the center.”
“I’m grateful you see it that way, my lady.”
Just then—
“Brother, it’s Cheon-mu.”
At the sound of Song Cheon-mu’s voice drifting in from outside, the two released their hands and exchanged an awkward smile.
“Come in.”
Song Cheon-mu opened the door and entered. Yi Yeong rose from her seat.
“Let me prepare some tea for you.”
“No, please don’t trouble yourself.”
“What are you saying? We’ve just received some excellent tea—do wait a moment.”
“Thank you!”
Yi Yeong excused herself.
Whenever an honored guest arrived, she prepared the tea herself. Among all her visitors, the person she most wished to serve tea to was Yi Hwan. That was why she kept the precious Dragon Well Tea, more valuable than gold, stored away with the utmost care.
‘He’s been watching over me. Thank you, brother.’
Last night, when Go Mi had delivered Yi Hwan’s letter, Yi Yeong had wept openly.
Even now, her eyes glistened with moisture.
“My lady, shall I prepare the tea?”
“No. I’ll do it myself.”
“Yes, my lady.”

* * *

The Crown Prince Palace.
Crown Prince Yi So and Jang Su sat across from each other.
The room was fragrant with tea—Dragon Well Tea, Yi So’s favorite.
It had been sent by the Song Family, and Yi So drank nothing else.
“Yi Hwang-ja has been quiet lately. It seems he believes he’s secured control of the Southern Army.”
“He would think so. Peng Wu-wei has taken the position of General-in-Chief.”
“Though the General-in-Chief assured us not to worry, I remain uneasy. If Peng Wu-wei moves in an unexpected direction and breaks the General-in-Chief’s calculations, we’ll have no chance to act, will we?”
“Perhaps.”
“Wouldn’t it be wise to send more of our people to the Southern Army now, as a precaution against such contingencies?”
Yi So set down his teacup and gazed at Jang Su. A faint smile played at the corner of his mouth.
“Let us place our trust in our brother.”
“I trust him as well. But…”
It was then—
“Your Highness, the Moon Master of Biweol has arrived.”
At the voice calling from outside, Yi So and Jang Su exchanged glances.
“The Moon Master himself?”
“What brings the Moon Master here when he should be with the Southern Army?”
Yi So called out quietly toward the door.
“Go in.”
A moment later, Go Mi entered through the door. She bowed toward Yi So and withdrew a letter tube from her sleeve.
“The General-in-Chief has asked me to deliver this to you.”
“Has something happened to the Southern Army?”
“No. The Southern Army proceeds according to the General-in-Chief’s will.”
At Go Mi’s words, Yi So relaxed and opened the letter tube. Inside, a document lay rolled tightly.
As Yi So unrolled and began to read the document, his brow gradually furrowed.
“Where is my brother now?”
“Near the Imperial Capital.”
“Why?”
“The General-in-Chief said he would explain the details to you directly later.”
Jang Su asked, his expression startled.
“Then the General-in-Chief has left the Southern Army unattended?”
“Yes.”
Jang Su stared at Yi So.
Yi So passed the document in his hand to Jang Su. After immediately reviewing its contents, Jang Su murmured to himself.
“What in the world is happening…….”
Go Mi spoke carefully.
“The General-in-Chief awaits your answer, Your Highness.”
Yi So remained silent, offering no reply.
Jang Su watched him quietly, while Go Mi waited with her head bowed, ready to hear Yi So’s response.
After a moment, Yi So opened his mouth.
“Tell my brother he may proceed as he wishes.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
As Go Mi’s forehead touched the ground, Yi So asked her a question.
“What is your assessment of my brother?”
It was a question weighted with many meanings.
Yet Go Mi answered without hesitation.
“I am not worthy to judge a man beyond my station, Your Highness.”
“Is that meant as praise?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
A smile crossed Yi So’s lips.
“Go and serve my brother well. Should any misfortune befall him, I will hold you accountable.”

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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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