The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 60

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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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The Red Dragon Martial Emperor, Episode 60

Chapter 60—Reunion

The Song Family Manor was in a flurry of activity from dawn.
Was some important guest arriving?
The servants sweated through the corners of the estate, cleaning every crevice, while Yi Young was absorbed in the kitchen preparing food alongside her attendants.
Song Cheon-ho himself had prepared the tea, with Song Cheon-mu assisting at his side.
“It’s wonderful to see such energy about the place, brother.”
“Indeed. And we have our Crown Prince to thank for it.”
“Is this His Highness’s first visit since arriving at the manor?”
“No. He came once, long ago, though we only met briefly outside.”
Thump-thump-thump.
Song Cheon-ho’s hands moved with reverent care as he ground the tea leaves. What he now prepared was premium Longjing Tea, counted among the Finest Fragrance Under Heaven. Even among the Song Clan, which had once been called a kingdom of tea, this was their most distinguished offering—reserved only for the emperor and the most honored guests.
“I’m coming in.”
At the sound of Yi Young’s voice, Song Cheon-mu quickly opened the door.
As Yi Young stepped inside, the aroma of savory food filled the room.
“Are you finished already, madam?”
“Yes. Only the dishes that need to be prepared upon his arrival remain. Oh! The tea leaves shouldn’t be ground so coarsely.”
……
“Let me have those.”
Yi Young took the mortar from Song Cheon-ho and ground the tea leaves herself.
“Are you grinding them too fine?”
“My brother prefers a deeper fragrance. So I must make it as fine as possible.”
“Ah, is that so?”
That was when it happened.
“Your Highness! The Crown Prince has arrived!”

* * *

Yi Hwan passed through the main gate and made his way toward the main building.
The path from the courtyard to the main hall was paved with marble from Dali, and the red pines adorning either side spoke of the Song Clan’s glorious past.
Though he had visited twice in recent days, this arrival in his new position felt different, stirred something deeper within him.
Cheol Mu-ok and Go Mi followed in his wake.
“Brother!”
Yi Young’s voice rang out from the direction of the separate building.
Yi Hwan gazed at her. Yi Young approached in quick steps, her eyes already glistening with tears.
Yi Hwan felt a tightness bloom in his chest.
This tender feeling was new to him.
“Have you been well?”
“Yes, brother.”
Stream-stream-stream.
Tears finally spilled down Yi Young’s cheeks.
“Welcome, Crown Prince,” Song Cheon-ho said, bowing deeply. Song Cheon-mu stood beside him, beaming like a child.
Yi Hwan spoke once more to Yi Young.
“I came too late.”
Sob.
He gently soothed the trembling shoulders of the weeping Yi Young. In that moment, Song Cheon-ho gestured with both hands toward the main building.
“Please, do come inside.”

When a few cups had been exchanged, Song Cheon-ho spoke.
“We have received such immeasurable kindness. I scarcely know how to repay it, nor where to place myself in gratitude.”
“From this moment forward, the true work begins. Steel your resolve.”
“What do you mean by that, Your Highness?”

“I need to reclaim the trade rights and routes that were taken from us. Manager Wang is merely a tool to accomplish that.”
Song Cheon-ho’s eyes widened in surprise. Yi Young, sitting beside him, reacted the same way.
“You don’t sound confident.”
“It’s not that. The Hwangryong Trading Company has backing from the Empress and Prince Yi, so…”
“No need to worry. I plan to settle this before they even have a chance to intervene.”
……
“We can discuss the details later. For now, let’s eat.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan ate more than he had ever eaten in his life.
Yi Young kept bringing out new dishes so relentlessly that he couldn’t bring himself to say he was full.
The food was delicious too, which certainly helped.

* * *

After the meal, Yi Hwan and Yi Young moved to the Separate Building.
Go Mi sat in the garden beside the Separate Building, drinking tea with Cheol Mu-ok and Song Cheon-mu.
Cheol Mu-ok turned to Song Cheon-mu with a question.
“How are the friends I sent doing?”
“Just having them here gives us great peace of mind. The mistress is very pleased as well.”
“That’s good to hear.”
The warriors sent by Tao Wang Yil-maek, the subject of their conversation, were divided between two Inns and the Manor, taking turns at guard duty.
“But won’t it be a problem for the two of you to be away?”
“We have someone formidable watching over things, so it’s fine.”
“Someone formidable?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
Song Cheon-mu had no idea that Ju Tae had already arrived. Cheol Mu-ok turned to Go Mi and asked,
“When will you finish investigating the Hwangryong Trading Company?”
“I’ve already grasped most of it.”
“Already?”
“Compared to gathering intelligence on enemies, this is nothing. But when do you plan to keep it secret?”
“You mean the relationship between the Prince and me?”
“Yes.”
Cheol Mu-ok smiled broadly.
“That’s not something I can speak of carelessly. You should ask the Prince about it later.”
It was then.
The door of the Separate Building opened and Yi Hwan poked his head out.
“Can I see someone?”
“Me?”
“Me?”
Go Mi and Cheol Mu-ok both pointed to themselves simultaneously.
“Go Mi.”
Go Mi set down her teacup and entered the Separate Building.

* * *

“On days when you have no duties, stay here and help your sister.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan continued, his gaze settling on Yi Young and Song Cheon-ho.
“If you ever face any unlawful conduct from the authorities, ask Go Mi for help. Since it’s best to resolve conflicts with the magistrate quickly, don’t put things off—speak up right away.”
“Yes, we will.”
“Yes, we will.”
Yi Young’s eyes grew red with tears again.
For her, sitting face to face with Yi Hwan and discussing family matters was profoundly moving.
Go Mi opened her mouth.
“I have a question for you, my lord.”
“Go ahead.”
“Has the Magistrate ever demanded bribes?”
“How did you know that?”
“I’m investigating various matters, and when you took over the Inn, I uncovered evidence that the Magistrate demanded payment. Is that accurate?”
“Yes. He cited some preposterous law and threatened to deny our operating permit if we didn’t comply.”
“Did he accept? And if he did, how much did you give him?”
Yi Young turned to Song Cheon-ho, and he answered in her stead.
“Two Thousand Silver Taels, and we provided him with drinks and food for nearly half the day.”
“I see.”
Yi Hwan, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
“How severely can we punish him?”
“Properly executed, it would warrant dismissal. But as you know, because of the Empress and Prince Yi, it’s questionable whether that’s feasible.”
“Do it by law. We’ll worry about the rest when the time comes.”
“I don’t have the authority to dismiss them myself. Instead, I’ll report this to the Crown Prince’s residence.”
Song Cheon-ho’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
“Even the Crown Prince himself would have difficulty dismissing a magistrate…….”
“Leave matters like this to Go Mi. Let your brother-in-law focus entirely on preparing goods. If we need more funds, we’ll discuss it when it comes up.”
“No need, sir. Thanks to Manager Wang’s investment of One Million Silver Taels, our capital is sufficient. Of course, once we recover all the trade rights and routes we lost, we’ll need more funds. But the Inn is generating income, so please don’t worry.”
The four continued their conversation about business.
As they spoke, Yi Hwan came to realize anew just how vital Go Mi’s role was.
“Is your salary at a satisfactory level?”
“I receive far more than enough to live alone, sir.”
“It’s best to save what you can while you’re able. Once the business is running smoothly, your brother-in-law will see you’re taken care of.”
“Understood.”
“Thank you.”
Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on Yi Young.
Though the time had been brief, she now felt to him like a true sister.
‘That one…….’
Yi Hwan suddenly recalled the original owner of this body and spoke.
“As he died in a surprise attack from enemies, he thought of you. He always wished for your happiness, and he regretted bitterly that he could do nothing for you. But seeing how strong you’ve become now, he would have no regrets even in death.”
Tears rolled down.
Fresh tears spilled down Yi Young’s cheeks.
Yi Hwan’s chest ached.
‘I will protect this girl. If some part of his spirit lingers anywhere, let it depart in peace now.’

* * *

When Go Mi stepped outside, her eyes were slightly reddened.
Caught up in the tender atmosphere between the siblings, she had found herself thinking of families lost to untimely death, and emotion had overcome her.
‘I took him for arrogant and disrespectful.’
Song Cheon-mu, who had been drinking tea with Cheol Mu-ok, noticed the redness around her eyes and his own widened in alarm.
“Why are you crying? Did the Young Lord scold you?”
“Oh, I got dust in my eye. Well, I should be going.”
Go Mi vaulted lightly over the wall instead of using the Main Gate and vanished. Cheol Mu-ok and Song Cheon-mu exchanged bewildered looks.
Just then Yi Hwan emerged outside, and both men quickly rose to their feet.
“Where did Go Mi go?”
“That is…….”
“She left earlier, sir.”
Yi Hwan’s brow narrowed. But he soon turned to Yi Young and her husband with a faint smile.
“She’ll return when the time is right.”

* * *

Ju Tae sat in a chair in the courtyard of his Lodging, savoring a moment of Leisurely Idleness.
‘Meeting both a descendant of the Sage and Tao Wang Yil-maek in one go.’
This reality still felt like a dream to him. The years of suffering and hardship that had carried him across the realm had passed like the Revolving Lantern. Looking back, there had even been times when he wanted to give up, insisting that fate itself was unnecessary.
More than once, watching Tao Wang Yil-maek toiling in darkness, bound by the chains of fate, he had dreamed of Achieving Success and Fame.
He had never told Yi Hwan, but there had been a time when he sought out the Shangchun Inn. Of course, it was to earn money by serving as a bodyguard to some powerful figure.
‘If I’d been just a little later, I might have given up.’
Footsteps echoed.
The sound pulled Ju Tae from his reverie.
Turning, he saw his guards approaching. One of them asked.
“Has he not returned yet?”
Ju Tae simply nodded.
His guards, who would normally have bristled at such an arrogant demeanor, refrained from doing so because they had witnessed his Martial Prowess.
If anything, his eyes held a glimmer of reverence as he regarded Ju Tae.
Ju Tae’s entrance had been that commanding.
“Dinner will be served shortly. Would you care to join us?”
“I’ve no interest.”
The guards exchanged glances, then turned to leave.
Ju Tae watched them go, his brow furrowing slightly.

Keep things cordial until the work is done. After all, they’re our allies for now.

“What’s being prepared for dinner?”
At Ju Tae’s question, the soldiers stopped and turned back.
“We don’t know ourselves. The Manager simply seemed to be in good spirits and ordered the kitchen staff to prepare a sumptuous feast.”
“A sumptuous feast, you say…”
Ju Tae sprang to his feet and approached the soldiers.
“Then I shall join you.”
“That would be welcome.”
The soldiers grinned. One of them even gestured ahead with both hands stretched out, as if urging Ju Tae to lead the way.
“That’s what comrades do.”
“You truly consider us comrades?”
“Would you rather I didn’t?”
“Of course not!”

* * *

Wang Ji-gyeong stood at his window, watching the guards laugh as they walked past. A faint smile played at his lips.
Yet the person occupying his thoughts was none other than a fortune-teller rumored to be remarkably skilled.

A noble will appear this year to aid you, Manager. Have no worries.

That fortune-teller—the one he’d consulted when the Hwangryong Trading Company troubles had weighed so heavily on him—had said those very words.
So who could this noble be?
Of course it was Yi Hwan.
“Chief Steward!”
“Yes, sir?”
The door opened and the chief steward entered.
“You called for me?”
“See to it that the guards lack for nothing. If they need anything at all, see it’s provided at once. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Manager.”
“And pay him special attention in particular.”
“Naturally. I’ve already instructed the attendants to look after him with extra care.”
Wang Ji-gyeong’s brow suddenly creased with worry.
“But why is he taking so long?”
“You granted him leave until evening, sir. The sun hasn’t even set yet.”
“Without him here, I find myself anxious.”
Then it happened.
Wang Ji-gyeong’s eyes widened like a calf’s.
Yi Hwan had passed through the main gate.
“He’s arrived!”
The chief steward sighed softly as he watched Wang Ji-gyeong’s delight.
‘He’s fallen for him—fallen hard. I’ve never seen him like this before.’

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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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